Football is known for its stupid play acting.
Rugby is not.
I am not saying that Alex Dunbar was acting legally with that clear-out on Jonny Sexton, far from it. The clear-out was dangerous and could have seriously injured the fly-half had he landed in a more delicate position than he did. A yellow card was the correct call from Pascal Gauzere and Dunbar can count himself very lucky that it wasn’t more than that given the precarious position he put Sexton in.
What I will say is that there is no excuse whatsoever for the football-esque flopping around done by Sexton.
Rugby prides itself on its upright traditions and its fair play values that are upheld week in week out by professionals worldwide. To see one of its big name stars rolling about on the floor trying to milk a penalty from the referee (and then once he got the penalty, a red card) is sickening. It goes completely against the unwritten moral code of rugby – do not let it sink to the level of football.
This is not a slight on football, may I add. There is much to be admired about a sport that captivates such a large audience week in week out. However it is universally accepted that the sport has a problem with players simulating injuries or diving to win penalties, and that is something that needs clamped down on.
So we could do with it not slipping into rugby too. Thankfully Sexton’s Oscar-worthy performance is an isolated incident rather than the norm and with luck that is how it will stay too. But whenever a player that is well-respected worldwide and is seen as a role model to many young players growing up in the game is seen play acting then you wonder what sort of an example that sets to them.
The problem is, the fact that it is an isolated incident makes it hard to decide what to do.
If this was the latest in a line of play acting incidents in rugby then World Rugby could step in and do something about it. However, Sexton’s dramatic reaction is the first that has been brought to a wider audience’s attention and therefore it is unlikely that we will see anything proactive done about it. In some ways it’s better to pretend that there isn’t a problem and hope it goes away instead of bringing it to further light.
Because when you look at it, is there really a problem? No, it’s not good to see Sexton trying to influence the referee’s decision, but as I have already mentioned, it is an isolated incident and as long as this doesn’t become a regular occurrence then this is something that should blow over. But in a Six Nations that should have been a celebration of a fantastic English Grand Slam, it has instead been rocked by Joe Marler’s alleged abuse of Rob Evans and now Sexton’s simulation.
Young children look away. We hope things will get better.
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