There was a hugely dramatic start to today’s Six Nations clash between England and Ireland at Twickenham with a sending off after just 82 seconds.
English second row Charlie Ewels was red carded for head on head contact with his opposite number James Ryan as he went in to tackle the Leinster lock.
It was the earliest sending off in a Test match in international rugby history.
After reviewing the video footage, French referee Mathieu Raynal decided there were no mitigating factors, so dismissed the Bath forward amid loud Twickenham boos.
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Raynal said: “He’s upright, he runs the risk, he’s led with the head, we’ve got a clear head contact.
“It’s a high speed, high degree of danger. So I have no option, I will go with a red card.”
Former England and Lions star Lawrence Dallaglio gave his take on the incident on commentary for ITV.
“I think Mathieu Raynal made it very clear he had no option but to give a red card,” he said.
“It’s very unfortunate, the crowd don’t like it, but the way the game is refereed, there was no mitigation in the eyes of the referee.
“It’s a head on head collision. The ref has been strong.”
A bloodied Ryan had to leave the field after the incident and was not to return.
Speaking on BBC Radio, former England and Lions scrum-half Matt Dawson said: “It was a red card all day long.
“As much as my phone is lighting up with people angry that it’s ruined the game, there was no mitigation whatsoever.”
Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward said on ITV: "You just can't go in that high and hit head on head.
"At the end of the day, James Ryan is off and he's off for the whole game.
"There's no malice, Ewels isn't a dirty player, but at the end of the day it's a red card. You can't be clashing heads like that.
"You've got to come in low and go up."
Dual code great Jonathan Davies described it as a "poor tackle", while veteran rugby journalist Peter Jackson said: “Charlie Ewels left the ref no option other than a straight red.”
Sports journalist Paul Eddison added: “Fair play to Mathieu Raynal. Never afraid to make the big decisions. He’s got that spot on. Ewels can have no complaints.”
The game ended with Ireland winning 32-15 to keep alive their Six Nations title hopes, although they were made to work really hard by 14-man England.
At half-time, the visitors were leading 15-9, through tries from winger James Lowe and Hugo Keenan, but Eddie Jones' team brought it back to 15-15 through the boot of Marcus Smith as the game moved into the final quarter.
Johnny Sexton then put the visitors back in front with a penalty, ahead of replacement forwards Jack Conan and Finlay Bealham scoring late tries to secure the victory and the all-important bonus point.
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