Bulls Boss Doesn't Mince His Words On 'Harsh' Red Card Versus Connacht

It was a night to forget for Connacht at the Sportsground on Saturday as they succumbed to a 28-14 defeat at the hands of South African side, the Bulls in their return to URC action following the break.

It was a disastrous start to the evening for Connacht who not only found themselves trailing by seven points after five minutes of play but were reduced to fourteen men just twenty minutes into Saturday's game when Sean Jansen was shown red for an elbow contact with the head.

Connacht's reduction would see the Bulls rack up another twenty-one points in the intervening thirty-five minutes, extending their lead to 28-0 by the time the clock struck fifty-five.

Fortunately for Pete Wilkin's men, however, the numbers were levelled up when referee Mike Adamson gave Mpilo Gumede his marching orders for having his hands in the eye area of David Hawkshaw's face.

30 November 2024; Piers O'Conor of Connacht is tackled by Harold Vorster, left, and David Kriel of Vodacom Bulls during the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Vodacom Bulls at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Jake White unconvinced by Mpilo Gumede red card

The South African flanker's red card would prove to be the only lifeline needed for Connacht to cross the whitewash for two conciliatory tries, and the beautification of a scoreline that was quickly racing out of control.

Gumede received his marching orders after taking umbrage to being held outside the ruck by Hawkshaw and retaliating with a push straight to the Connacht centre's face. While the TMO stated that he had not 'gouged' Hackshaw, they deemed the presence of Gumede's fingers in the vicinity of Hackshaw's eyes was reason enough to send him off.

However, speaking after the affair, Bulls director of rugby Jake White was less than convinced by Gumede's sending off for what some Connacht players had remarked was an 'eye gouge'.

I will say on record that I heard the TMO say there was no complete evidence that it’s in the eyes, that it’s just to the face. I think that will probably be what will come out because it’s irrelevant. He was held behind the ruck, and the TMO’s voice was that it should’ve been a penalty for lifting his leg and holding him behind the ruck.

I must say I thought the red card was a bit harsh, to be fair, but we’ve got to adapt.

If the communique comes out during the November Tests that this is what they’re looking for, we’ve got to be clever enough to understand that there will always be a focus on that kind of incident.

While White may not have felt Hackshaw's original infringement was worthy of a penalty, there could be little debate that a retaliatory shove from Gumede that runs the risk of contact with the eye is grounds for a sending-off in today's game.

After the disappointing result, Connacht now sit just inside the top eight on eighteen points, meanwhile, the bonus point win leaves the Bulls ten points behind league leaders Leinster in third place on 24 points.

Things won't get any easier for Connacht either, with the Western Province set to travel to the Aviva Stadium for a clash with Leinster in the next round of the URC on December 21st.

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