It was the big talking point from Friday night’s Welsh derby and it’s an incident that’s really dividing opinion.
It came 51 minutes into the Guinness PRO14 clash between the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues down in Llanelli.
As the Blues’ Moldovan prop Dmitri Arhip was carrying the ball into contact, he was involved in a collision with Scarlets No. 8 Sione Kalamafoni, which left the Tongan international laid out on the deck.
After receiving lengthy treatment, Kalamafoni eventually left the field and didn’t return.
Replays of the incident indicated that Arhip’s elbow had connected with the side of the back rower’s jaw as he drove forward.
The officials took no action over the incident and the Blues went on to win the game 13-10, completing the league double over the Scarlets, who they beat 29-20 at Cardiff City Stadium a fortnight ago.
There has subsequently been a big reaction on social media, with some insisting Arhip should have been sent off and others maintaining it was bad tackle technique by Kalamafoni.
Nigel Owens has given his verdict, stressing that tackle technique is not relevant to the decision-making.
Dragons chairman David Buttress was clear in his view, declaring it was “a clear straight red”.
He added: “What parents will take their kids to play rugby, when you get knocked clean out with straight elbow to the head? Got to eliminate that from the game.”
Others concurred.
These were some of the comments.
“Utterly pathetic. Stiff arm to the head.”
“A blatant elbow to the head that knocks out a 19st player.”
“By the letter of the law, it’s a nailed on red card.”
“Tackle technique irrelevant, you can’t lead with an elbow. Red card. Would expect Arhip to be cited and banned.”
"He leads with his forearm and makes direct contact to the face with force, 100% red card."
“Given the current concern regarding head injuries, that’s concerning from the officials.”
“Agree head in wrong position, but that doesn’t negate Arhip’s arm action. Red all day.”
But others disagreed strongly, including dual code great Jonathan Davies, who was commentating on the game for S4C.
Responding to suggestions it was a red card offence, he replied: “No chance. Tackler with poor technique, head in wrong position.”
Davies added: "Most concussions now are the tackler mistiming or poor technique, ie head in wrong position. So we can’t penalise the the ball carrier all the time. In my opinion, Arhip was just carrying the ball. If tackler goes lower, play on.
"Players are going for big hits, but getting it wrong, then ball carriers getting carded."
Wales Grand Slam winner Tom Shanklin said: "Play on. Elbow was tucked when contact made. He braces himself and uses arm to push 8 away. Head to elbow rather than elbow to head."?
Former Wales forward Andrew Coombs also felt Arhip had done nothing wrong.
He said: “Arm tucked tight to his body on impact. He has the right to protect himself in the collision, he would have been chopped in half otherwise. Good competitive collision, just unfortunate that Kalamafoni took the knock to his head.”
London Welsh director of rugby Cai Griffiths, the ex-Ospreys prop, said: “Great ball carry. Poor tackle technique.”
Others took a similar view, with comments like “Nothing wrong from Arhip! Get lower, simple as!” and “Not being funny, if he tackled him probably it wouldn’t be an issue.”
Seeking some clarity on the laws, I sought expert opinion from refereeing contacts of mine.
The consensus of opinion I had back was that poor tackle technique doesn’t come into the decision-making process. Instead, it’s all about the actions of Arhip.
And the general view was it was a red card as he led with his elbow into Kalamafoni’s head, making it dangerous play.
Now what you often hear talked about is referees looking for separation of the leading arm away from the body in such situations, in terms of it being foul play.
Some people are arguing there wasn't obvious separation and that Arhip's arm extends away after contact, as opposed to him raising it before contact.
But, regardless of separation, there is a counter argument that it’s an illegal fend, in that it’s leading with the elbow to the head, rather than a hand-off.
The debate will go on and on.
It’s now over to the citing commissioner to give his verdict.
