The red card was over the top, but the ref hardly had a choice. The IRB has mandated that any spear tackle is an automatic red card. It's very black and white which was unfortunate because I don't believe their was malice intent in the tackle and I'm sure the Welsh would have come out on top if it wasn't for that.
So it really comes down to two things. Was it a spear tackle? (it clearly was). And should the IRB give the ref more latitude to make situational rulings in the area of spear tackles?
Spear tackles have the same attention in rugby as headshots do in hockey.
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