Rugby World Cup 2019 | Italian prop Andrea Lovotti’s ugly spear tackle
Italy stayed with South Africa for a long time in their clash at the Rugby World Cup but a horrific moment turned the game on its head.
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It was almost as expected for a South Africa and Italy match up at the Rugby World Cup with the Springboks running away 49-3 winners.
The score flattered South Africa as they were held to 17-3 at halftime as the Azzurri kept it close in Shizuoka.
But an ugly moment all but ended Italy’s hopes in the tournament as Andrea Lovotti was red carded for a spear tackle on South Africa’s Duane Vermeulen.
It was a bizarre act when Italy had the ball and had just been awarded a penalty close to their own line.
It was one of Italy’s most promising attacking raids of the game but the referee Wayne Barnes had just called a penalty to the Azzurri before Nicola Quaglio and Lovotti went through with the spear tackle.
Barnes said while Quaglio lifted before “1 has got his left leg in the air and then dropped him head first — Blue 1 is the worst offender of those two”.
WATCH THE TACKLE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE
The commentators immediately agreed Lovotti was in deep trouble and had likely played his final minutes in the World Cup.
“Silly, pointless, it deserves a red card,” one of the commentators said.
Post-match, former Wallaby Drew Mitchell said Italy were lucky not to be down to 13 men.
“It was quite an ugly incident,” Mitchell said. “Both players were pretty lucky not to get a card.”
It was a tough night for Italy with both tight-head props Simone Ferrari and Marco Riccioni injured inside the first 30 minutes before Lovotti’s incident.
To reach the quarterfinals, Italy have the task of beating the All Blacks in their final match, and hoping South Africa lose to Canada.
Social media were baffled by the act.
Just idiotic from Lovotti. Italy under the pump but weren’t out of the game. They are now #RSAvITA
— Sonja McLaughlan (@Sonjamclaughlan) October 4, 2019
spectacularly stupid red card in the rugby just then. Italy managed to gain 50 yards in a flash, won a penalty near enough on the try line, the whistle blows, then both props lift a guy upside down and drop him on his head.
— Jonathan Fisher (@fishplums) October 4, 2019
“This is a clear easy one. It’s a red card†- Wayne Barnes
— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) October 4, 2019
Both Italian props could have been shown red cards. Only one goes - Andrea Lovotti
Dumb, dumb, DUMB #RWC2019 #RSAvITA
🤷ðŸ¼â€â™‚ï¸ðŸ¤·ðŸ¼â€â™‚ï¸ what are you doing Lovotti #SAvIta #Red
— Tommy Bowe (@TommyBowe) October 4, 2019
Thought Barnes was good in managing the game today.For the most part was sensitive to both teams aspirations. The HIA resulting in uncontestable scrums is a good talking pt for future and the red card was correct (altho I wonder whether 17 will also be cited for red card offence)
— Jonathan Kaplan (@RefJK) October 4, 2019
Electric Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe scored a classy double as South Africa ran away with five tries after the red card.
Man-of-the-match Kolbe’s try double was the highlight for the Springboks but the evening ended uncomfortably for the speedster when he limped off late in the game after twisting his ankle in a tackle.
“This was crunch game for us. It looked easy, but it was a fairly slippery game for us,” South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus said.
“In the beginning, we were a bit worried about this game. And I thought that the red card obviously cost them because there were stages when they almost came back into the game.” Italy coach Conor O’Shea was incensed after prop Andrea Lovotti’s sending-off for a dangerous tip-tackle on Duane Vermeulen as the Azzurri attacked early in the second half.
“I’m destroyed really for everybody because we worked so hard,” said the Irishman.
“We get to the start of the second half, we’re close to the line and then just crass stupidity, crass stupidity. And then you’re down to 14 men,” he fumed.
— with AFP
Originally published as Rugby World Cup 2019 | Italian prop Andrea Lovotti’s ugly spear tackle