REDS SLAM ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ CONDUCT OF NEW ZEALAND REFEREE AFTER LOCK BREAKS NECK

Reds back-row Harry Wilson has criticised referee Brendon Pickerill following their 35-30 Super Rugby Pacific defeat to the Highlanders at the weekend.

The Queensland outfit were unhappy with the match official’s conduct after lock Connor Vest broke his neck in an incident with the hosts’ forward Shannon Frizell.

Wilson was frustrated that it was not looked at again by Pickerill and the television match official following what appeared to be a no-arms hit, but the number eight’s primary concern was the health of his team-mate.

According to the Australian international, the New Zealand referee was far too quick to usher Vest off the pitch without considering the injury the second-row may have suffered.

Player welfare

“Rugby has really been big on player welfare and for us there wasn’t much player welfare there with a no-arms tackle to the head. Vesty (Vest) broke his neck and for me that’s pretty ridiculous,” he told reporters.

“On top of that as a playing group we were very frustrated with the referee trying to rush him off the field.

“We thought that was pretty disrespectful for a player who has just broken his neck, trying to rush him off the field as if he’s wasting time.

“That’s why he walked off the field so quickly. He was on the ground for a long time and they had him in all the positions and the external pressure from the ref forced him to walk off.

“You don’t know what sort of extra damage that could do to someone with a broken neck.”

Vest has been ruled out of the rest of the season due to his broken neck but thankfully avoided surgery and was able to fly home on Sunday.

“On Friday night we weren’t sure. This (avoiding surgery) is a great thing for him and his family, I know how worried they were, being in another country on a hospital bed in not a good way,” Wilson said.

Securing a play-off place

The Reds’ attentions now turn to their final game of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season, where they attempt to seal their play-off place.

Brad Thorn’s men take on Fijian Drua away from home knowing that a win will be enough to secure a position in the top-eight, but a defeat opens the door for the Highlanders, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels.

Wilson was “really proud” of their performance against the Highlanders but is determined to make sure of their passage into the next round when they face the Pacific Islanders.

“To finish that way hurts. Our backs are against the wall. We nearly got it done (on Friday), but next week we have to get it done,” he added.

“A lot of people will be writing us off (against the Drua). We have to go over there and thrive in it.”

2023-05-29T09:15:34Z dg43tfdfdgfd