Cheslin Kolbe’s high tackle on Lions star Conor Murray sparks fury

Former England fly-half Andy Goode joined Lions fans in questioning how Cheslin Kolbe escaping a red card for his dangerous high tackle on Conor Murray.

Handre Pollard smashed the ball high and Lions scrum-half Murray was taken out in the air by Kolbe during an ill-tempered first-half. 

The challenge sparked a brawl among the players on the touchline.

Referee Ben O’Keeffe brandished a yellow card to winger Kolbe after consulting with the TMO.

Former England rugby star Maggie Alphonsi told Sky Sports: ‘I actually think he was lucky. Personally I think it should have been a red. And then we start to see the scuffles at the end where Curry and Itoje came into it.

‘You might say mitigating circumstances, the fact that Murray comes down with his arm so he doesn’t hit his head. But still, I think that was reckless, and potentially should have led to a red.’

Fans suggested Rassie Erasmus’ verbal tirade before the second Test has got into the referee’s head. 

And fans believed it helped the Springboks on Sunday.

Andy Goode tweeted: ‘How’s that not a red card for Kolbe?!’ 

Colm Flynn said: ‘Kolbe has Razzie’s rant against the officials to thank for that only being a yellow.’

O’Keeffe was under pressure after South Africa’s director of rugby Erasmus launched a hour-long rant about refereeing decisions during South Africa’s first Test defeat by the Lions.

The Springboks’ coach has made his feelings clear about a number of decisions he felt went against his side during their 22-17 defeat last week, calling Mako Vunipola ‘reckless and dangerous’ after handling Cheslin Kolbe, and has retweeted clips highlighting perceived mistakes made by officials. 

The eye-opening clip saw him take aim at officials over a perceived lack of respect towards his team, highlighting 30 decisions he feels they got wrong – calling some of them ‘mind baffling’, ‘silly’, ‘comical’ and ‘incredible’.