Referee’s X-rated response to ex-England international’s cheeky message after controversial Henry Pollock decision
Northampton Saints star Henry Pollock and referee Andrew Brace.
Former England fly-half Andy Goode has revealed that he jokingly sent a picture of a Dyson to Andrew Brace following last weekend’s clash between Bath and Northampton Saints.
The West Country outfit defeated the Saints 43-41 on Friday to secure their place in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals, but it did not come without controversy.
With just a few minutes remaining, Brace sin-binned Henry Pollock for a breakdown offence despite Santiago Carreras going off his feet.
Bath’s late try after Pollock call
What should have been a penalty to Northampton duly turned into prime attacking opportunity for Bath and the hosts took advantage through Ted Hill.
“Pollock’s yellow card and people are talking about it as a mega moment in the game because obviously Bath go on to win from that penalty,” Goode said on The Rugby Pod.
“Brace is my mate and I’ve gone straight to the message and sent him a picture of a Dyson, saying: ‘That’s being delivered this week’ as a joke, and that’s the relationship we have.
“He’s told me to f*** off obviously.”
The person who founded Dyson is lifelong Bath supporter Sir James Dyson, who recently acquired a 50 per cent stake in the club.
He will no doubt be delighted to see them in the last-four, but it might not have happened with the penalty call and yellow card against Pollock.
Wales legend and former Northampton star Dan Biggar also commented on the incident, agreeing with most that the back-rower should not have been sin-binned.
“I think it’s harsh isn’t it? He’s in a pretty good position is Andrew Brace and it’s a relatively obvious one I think to pick up and he’s unlucky is Pollock,” Biggar said.
“I would say he’s unlucky, very unlucky.”
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Those two were joined on the panel by another international in the form of Jim Hamilton who felt that Brace “had a brilliant game”, but the ex-Scotland lock understood the significance of that decision.
“It’s a big moment in the game and it is because the momentum that Bath have in that moment and Northampton started to be on the back foot,” Hamilton said.
“It’s an accumulation of penalties, it’s not just a one-off penalty, but he’s had to make a big call there.”
Two best teams in England
Biggar insisted that it should not detract from what was an outstanding game of rugby, however, with both teams putting on a show.
“It was the two best teams in England by an absolute country mile, there was so much quality. It was a Test match and both teams should be credited for how well they played, how well they attacked the game,” the Welshman added.
“Bath for fighting back and finding a way to win with the big players they have, but the Saints for how easy they make the game look and how well coached they are. A Champions Cup classic for sure.”
