As rugby league fans focused on Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors and the build up to Warrington Wolves taking on Salford Red Devils away from home, rugby union fans were hoping to see England pick up their first win of the World Cup against Argentina.
But things went against the side helped coached by Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield.
This is because Tom Curry was sent off for an accidental head clash that you can see below:
The first red card of #RWC2023 has been given to England's Tom Curry following this head-on-head clash just minutes into tonight's clash vs. Argentina 👇🟥pic.twitter.com/SU6pVieudh
— Superbru (@Superbru) September 9, 2023
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Former Super League star and Huddersfield Giants legend Eorl Crabtree was not impressed.
He took to social media:
“This red card for Tom curry is worth looking at, an accidental clash of heads has resulted in the most ridiculous red card possibly ever seen. Player safety is paramount but in a contact sport like rugby, common sense has to prevail.”
This red card for Tom curry is worth looking at, an accidental clash of heads has resulted in the most ridiculous red card possibly ever seen. Player safety is paramount but in a contact sport like rugby, common sense has to prevail. https://t.co/bMqSUVn4TZ
— Eorl Crabtree (@BigEorl) September 9, 2023
Meanwhile England rugby league skipper George Williams slammed it as “madness” and feared rugby league could follow suit.
Red card?!
Hope we don’t go down the same route. Madness! 🏴— George Williams (@George7Williams) September 9, 2023
This comes after Tony Smith recently expressed this kind of concern after a Carlos Tuimavave yellow card for Hull FC.
“Yeah yeah well yes and no I didn’t think it was a sin bin, but it was one of those tackles that bloke lands flat on his back, you know, and we see him all the time. But, you know, they’re the reactions that we get sometimes.
“Our sport’s a little bit over, overcautious at the moment with many of our tackling issues.
“I’d like us to have a look at methods of tackling in terms of not just safety but what looks good for our game.
“I thought we had a few rucks and mauls there today. It absolutely looked like a game at Rugby Union at times and we didn’t practice that very well.”
Asked about the referees’ role in this, he said:
“Both, it’s within the rules and you know, nowadays you’re allowed to pull and tug and hold people up and drive them five to ten metres. A single bloke getting caught by three or four others, it’s very difficult for him to get down on the ground and get the ball down on the ground.
“If you’re being held up, you can’t get to the ground, and then you drag being pushed and dragged, all you can do, and I had to ask my players at halftime to get in there and stop them from being dragged back to their own goal line. So therefore, we’re creating the maul again, or the ruck.”