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19th March 2023
12:04pm GMT
England full back Freddie Steward received a red card for an elbow to the head of his Irish counterpart Hugo Keenan on the stroke of halftime as his English side tried to halt Ireland's Grand Slam push.
The incident happened at breakneck speed, with Steward protesting his innocence to South African referee Jaco Peyper. However, Peyper was adamant that "in the current climate" it was a definite red card.
Despite the referee's assuredness in brandishing the red card towards the Leicester Tigers back, a number of former England internationals have taken to social media to express their anger with the decision.
83-time-capped England prop Joe Marler believed the call was incredulous, tweeting his ire at the half time interval, with the Harlequins loosened labelling the incident "utterly ridiculous".
Former England centre Will Carling was another who didn't agree with the potentially decisive call, with the one-time British and Irish Lion calling Peyper's decision "a bloody joke".
The 72-time-capped international also lamented the decision making process, suggesting that the speed of the incident should have been taken into account by the referee and TMO; "Steward had a split second to react".
Outspoken pundit Austin Healy also chimed in online, with the former England and Leicester Tigers scrum half tweeting an expletive-laden response to Steward's dismissal just before the half time whistle.
Speaking on BBC Five Live, former England and Wasps scrum half Matt Dawson voiced his anger regarding the sending off, which ultimately proved to be a fatal moment for an England side who fell to their third defeat of the tournament.
"He is stepping and slowing and turning to get out of the contact area, and has been punished by being sent off. It is a mockery. He was doing his utmost to avoid any kind of contact. It is an utter farce", said the former British and Irish Lion.
It was not just the English though who felt Freddie Steward was unfortunate to see red, with former Ireland full back Rob Kearney also calling the decision harsh, during the half time television analysis.
Kearney and former teammate Shane Horgan disagreed on the incident, with the former arguing that "That is not an attempted tackle, he is trying to get out of the way!"
At the time, England fly-half and captain Owen Farrell was unable to hide his shock at Peyper's decision.
During Peyper's explanation of the decision to dismiss Steward, Farrell's comments to the referee were picked up by the broadcaster thanks to the referee's microphone.
"Oh no? Red card?!" exclaimed the 31-year-old, before arguing "He's (Steward) trying to get out of the contact!"
England head coach Steve Borthwick, who has endured an arduous first Six Nations campaign at the helm of English rugby, also called Peyper's decision into question in the post-match press conference.
"We can talk about tackle height, and have a conversation about it. What's clear, though, is that Freddie was not trying to make a tackle. If you want to talk about that, we can talk about that", said the former Saracens and England lock.
Farrell had a second bite of the cherry too, this time from the comfort of the lavish Aviva Stadium media centre, rather than the heat of battle.
"I was surprised (with the decision), if I'm honest. But it's not up to us. We don't make the rules, as players and we don't hear what's going on in the ref's mic, and the process they go through", remarked Farrell.
Whilst disappointed with the final result, and one which resigned England to a fourth placed finish, Farrell was quick to praise the attitude and performance of his English side, particularly off the back of their record defeat at the hands of the French last weekend.
"It was a brilliant Test match, well contested and the way we responded after that red card was very good. We fought for each other but, unfortunately, we didn't end up on the right side of the result", the three-time British and Irish Lion stated.
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