All Blacks star Beauden Barrett has extended a helping hand to Tadhg Beirne in his fight against a potential ban, following the Irish lock’s red card during their recent test match in Chicago.
The match concluded with a victory of 26-13 in favor of Barrett’s team, but the focus shifted to Beirne’s red card for a head clash with Barrett earlier in the game.
“I felt the impact on my head, but I believe there was no deliberate intention there,” Barrett expressed at Soldier Field post-match. “I am willing to support him in any way to mitigate the consequences of the incident.”
Initially shown a yellow card by referee Pierre Brousset, Beirne’s penalty was upgraded to a red card by the foul play review official, Dan Jones.
“Perhaps a yellow card would have sufficed, but a 20-minute red seemed harsh in this instance. My sympathy lies with him,” Barrett commented.
Barrett also empathized with his brothers, Scott and Jordie, who both had to leave the field due to injuries during the same play. The severity of their leg injuries is uncertain.
Irish coach Andy Farrell carefully addressed the incident when questioned, stating, “It is crucial to be cautious with our comments. In real time, I fail to see how it warranted a red card. However, the decision has been made.”
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson concurred with the red card decision, while shedding light on the lengthy process involved in reaching the verdict. The officials spent approximately six minutes deliberating the initial yellow card call before resorting to watching the replay on a TV due to technical issues.
The match witnessed a revitalized All Blacks scrum that played a pivotal role in securing penalties and advantageous field positions. Robertson emphasized the significance of the scrum’s performance and its impact on the game.
Following their media obligations, the All Blacks promptly headed to O’Hare International Airport and flew to Edinburgh to gear up for their upcoming test against Scotland.
