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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Vern Cotter frustrated with red card decision as Fiji boss calls for consistency

Fiji boss Vern Cotter has claimed that his player Arthur Tuisue did not deserve his red card for a high tackle on Joey Carbery in Ireland's 35-17 victory this afternoon.

Gloucester flanker Tuisue was dismissed by ref Mathieu Reynal for making contact with Carbery's head with his shoulder.

Carbery had to come off for a HIA after the incident. He was replaced by Jack Crowley and then didn't return, and could be doubtful for next Saturday's clash with Australia.

READ NEXT: Ireland brush Fiji aside as rotated line-up notch five tries to maintain winning streak

"Was there foul play? What’s the question? Is there a head? I don’t know," said Cotter.

"There is a meeting after this series about the state of the game and we need to sit down and talk about it, people around rugby need to sit down and talk about what’s best. At the moment it’s tough."

Asked if there should be a 20 minute red card introduced by World Rugby, Cotter replied: "It is probably not the right place to bring it out in the media.

"There are certain frustrations - all of us have said ever since we were involved in the game is (that we want) consistency. Be really consistent."

In that regard, Cotter referenced Jimmy O'Brien's part in Ireland's third try that was looked at by Reynard as a possible double movement that would have ruled out the score, but the referee decided it was a '50/50 call' and his initial call to award the try stood.

"We get a call, 50/50 of a guy who is using his knees on the ground," Cotter said.

"It is either 50 right or 50 wrong - it is not 50/50, he didn’t or he did.

"There is a bit of frustration around that but hopefully things can get sorted out reasonably soon."

Ireland boss Andy Farrell had his own view on the red card decision.

"The way that the game these days has shown that a shoulder anywhere near the neck or the head you're into that type of of territory so I'm sure that when people see it in the cold light of day it might be a bit different," said Farrell.

"But the reality is when they slowed it down on the camera there was a bit of contact there to the chin so the officials had to act accordingly."

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