In an age when the rugby authorities are putting an emphasis on clamping down on potentially dangerous tackles, Andrew Porter was lucky to get away with this one.
The first half of the Champions Cup semi-final between Leinster and Toulouse provided some pulsating action, with both sides playing an incredibly exciting brand of rugby. There were some excellent scores along the way, with Leinster leading 27-14 at the interval.
Despite falling into a fairly large deficit at one point, this try from Toulouse just before halftime gave them a glimmer of hope of getting back into the game.
Essai d'Emmanuel Meafou. ⚡🏉
Après de belles prises d'initiative du @StadeToulousain qui relève la tête ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/3yTfCuYvMt— Champions Cup France (@ChampionsCup_FR) April 29, 2023
However, some feel that Leinster got away lightly here despite conceding the try.
Questions asked about Andrew Porter 'tip tackle'
During the buildup to that Toulouse try, it seemed that Leinster's Andrew Porter got away with what should have been at least a yellow card offence.
After making contact with winger Juan Cruz Mallía as he passed the ball to a teammate, the Ireland prop would lift the Argentine into the air and looked to forcefully drive him toward the ground.
Referee Wayne Barnes did not punish it at the time, while the TMO did not bring it to his attention in the aftermath of the try. You can watch the incident below, with many feeling that Porter got off lightly.
Where’s the TMO gone? Head in the biscuit tin or gone to the toilet?! How’s he missed this clear yellow card for Porter for the tip tackle?! pic.twitter.com/2Aj7EkOUSn
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) April 29, 2023
Legs lifted above the horizontal, yellow card
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) April 29, 2023
No replays of the tip tackle from Porter? #LEIvTOU
— Master Of None Podcast (@MasterOfNonePod) April 29, 2023
Absolutely shocking call. https://t.co/A1vWivkd0H
— James While (@jameswhile) April 29, 2023
Mental this https://t.co/SNanC9VvcX
— ACE BOOGIE (@aceboogieh14) April 29, 2023
Yeh. How they missed that I don’t know. Got away with one there 🤷
— Phil not Bob (@Bob71136804) April 29, 2023
A Toulouse player has been yellow carded for knocking the ball on in this game, but a Leinster player can do this deliberately and the officials pretend it never happened.
It’s farcical. #LEIVTOU https://t.co/uBsNREnBZ2— JHC (@JYHYCN) April 29, 2023
Andrew Porter was very lucky there. Definitely should have been checked. #LEIvTOU #HeinekenChampionsCup
— CatherineL (@CatherineL2288) April 29, 2023
Je croyais que la polémique concernait le plaquage haut sur Dupont, qui méritait tout juste une pénalité. En fait ça se passe plus tard, sur Mallia. Et… disons que ça va faire grincer quelques dents côté toulousain… #LEIvTOU #LEIST https://t.co/TdGqeiDN79
— Thomas Corbet (@thomascorbet_mo) April 29, 2023
The above tweet from French journalist Thomas Corbet translates as (according to Twitter):
I thought the controversy was about the high tackle on Dupont, who just deserved a penalty. In fact it happens later, on Mallia. And... let's say it's going to make some teeth cringe on the Toulouse side.
He was not the only one who felt they had a right to feel aggrieved.
Speaking on RTÉ at halftime, Jamie Heaslip said that Andrew Porter was fortunate that further action wasn't taken by the officials.
It might warrant a look from the referee, I don't think it was a red card. The fact that they scored, maybe the referee just lets them play on.
[Porter] tips him up and elevates him, but he lands on his back which probably saves him. It's not the tidiest of pictures.
I've seen referees pull that one up on any other day. I'm surprised the TMO didn't flag it, maybe he did and they had a quick look at it.
It was definitely something you saw in the play and we saw Toulouse going mad on the sideline, something you can understand.
Considering the way the game is refereed at the moment, you can't help but feel that Leinster got away with one here.
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