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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Matthew Southcombe

'How the hell?!' Dan Biggar controversy leaves TV pundit Austin Healey in disbelief

Wales fly-half Dan Biggar was involved in a contentious incident during Northampton's game against Bristol Bears on Saturday afternoon.

Early in the entertaining contest, Biggar was tasked with the unenviable job of stopping a rampaging Semi Radradra in his own 22. The Welshman brought his man down but the TMO then forced referee Karl Dickson to take a look at the tackle Biggar making an upright hit that resulted in his shoulder going close to Radradra's head.

As the officials looked at the replays, the Fijian was seen gesturing towards Northampton's side of the field that Biggar needed to lower his tackle height and, initially, BT Sport pundit Ugo Monye agreed: "I think we could be looking at a red here, Nick."

READ MORE: 'Reckless' Davies leaves Faf sprawled on floor as Healey calls for punishment

And after seeing a second replay, he added: "Yeah, it's a red." However, referee Dickson saw things differently, judging that Biggar had initially made contact with the ball that was tucked in Radradra's chest before rising up, which is why he only awarded a penalty.

"He's hit him low and then ridden up, so it's a penalty only," Dickson said.

Upon watching further replays, Monye slowly began changing his mind and agree with the official.

Regular BT Sport pundit Austin Healey, who was not working on the match, was in no doubt, though. He felt Biggar should have been given his marching orders, posting on social media: "How the hell has Biggar not got red for that?"

The incident happened in the 17th minute, with Northampton going on to pull away in the second half.

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