Geordan Murphy declared Rugby has âgone too PCâ in response to the controversial red card shown to lock Will Spencer in Leicesterâs 41-35 defeat by Wasps.
Spencer was sent off for a high tackle on Tommy Taylor as the first-half of an eight-try thriller at the Ricoh Arena drew to a close, with his shoulder appearing to connect with the hookerâs head.
Referee Ian Tempest was enforcing the letter of the law as the sport implements a crackdown on dangerous challenges in an effort to address the proliferation of concussion.
But in Spencerâs defence he stands seven inches taller than Taylor and was dipping down as he made a tackle that has ignited a heated debate just eight days after Bristolâs George Smith was sent off in similarly contentious circumstances.
âThe gameâs gone too PC. That for me is crazy, itâs Rugby. We need to start picking players under five foot,â Leicester interim head coach Geordan Murphy said.
âI see the game becoming very, very different to the game I played and loved. From my point of view, it wasnât a red card.
âTommy Taylor is pulling out of the tackle because he doesnât want to run upright, so his height is dipped. And I thought the first point of contact was on the shoulder.
âItâs a really tough one. I didnât think it was a red card â I thought it might be yellow but red has killed the game.
âThe TMO was pushing for a red card, saying have a look at it again. Itâs a bitter pill when the TMO says we have to look at it when all the players, staff and coaches thought it was a good shot.
âItâs a collision sport and is a sport for all sizes but what weâll probably end up with is Rugby league where everyone is the same height and shape.
âI understand the principle of looking after players, but if that is a head shot then Tommy Taylor stays down and we have a head injury assessment, but he doesnât.â
Wasps director of Rugby Dai Young had only measured sympathy for Spencerâs removal from the game and ironically for Leicester they played their best Rugby with 14 men.
âWhether it has to go that way or not, itâs clear, thatâs the law. Itâs there,â Young said.
âWeâve had the directive that any tackle direct to the head is a red card. Itâs harsh and Iâd have been disappointed if it was on our side, but I totally understand.
âI donât think itâs something the referee should be criticised for. If it was a yellow card I wouldnât have complained about it. I hope the player doesnât get banned for it. Itâs difficult to get that 100 per cent right every time.
âWe have to protect the players. The guys who are saying the gameâs gone soft are guys who are not out there.â