Rob Baxter: Exeter boss frustrated with the disciplinary ‘process’ after controversial red card for Montpellier’s Zach Mercer
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter believes that fans could be playing too big a role in the disciplinary procedure after Montpellier number eight Zach Mercer was red carded in Sunday’s clash.
The England international was controversially sent off for making contact with the head of Exeter flanker Christ Tshiunza.
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Although the Chiefs benefited from the call, Baxter indicated that it was a harsh decision to give Mercer his marching orders.
Like all big calls, it was shown on the big screen, which allows the supporters to view the same images as the officials.
15 on 15
“I just don’t like the whole process. We played London Irish a couple of weeks ago and you have the whole stadium booing every time they want a replay,” Exeter’s director of rugby said.
“We have to do something about it. It’s not good for the game. Whether decisions are right or wrong, this convoluted look at the replay to see whether it’s a penalty, yellow or red card with the crowd booing every collision, I just don’t like it.
“To me, that is not what rugby should be about. We should be feeling like we want the contest to be between 15 players on each side when possible, not trying to create red cards as a spectator sport. None of that is positive for the game.”
Mercer’s red card denied the viewer the chance of seeing the two number eights – him and the Chiefs’ Sam Simmonds – continue their fascinating duel.
Both were impressive in the first half as Montpellier went into the break with a 15-14 advantage before the visiting back-row was red carded in the 49th minute.
With the extra space afforded to him, Simmonds excelled and helped the Devonians into the quarter-finals on try countback.
The match finished 33-33 but the hosts touched down five times in comparison to the French side’s four which meant that Exeter edged into the last-eight, where they will face the Stormers at Sandy Park.
“He (Simmonds) looked almost impossible to handle sometimes,” Baxter said.
“He very nearly scored a solo try that would have written the game off and he was one of the guys who got his levels right for what he wanted to achieve today.
“We’ve had a few rollercoasters over the years. I am really pleased for the players. We’ve challenged them a bit this season around some of the highs and lows of performances.
“We really looked like a team that wanted to win and wanted to work hard. I don’t know if them being reduced to 14 men made it harder for us. It seemed to energise them – they grew and grew.
“Overall, those emotional rollercoasters, coming through that, it shows you can make good things happen.
“We were quite rightly criticised after our away performances against Bath and Harlequins, whereas today we controlled what we wanted to do very well.”
Another difficult match in the quarter-finals
Next up for the English team in the Champions Cup is an encounter with the United Rugby Championship title holders, the Stormers, who defeated another Premiership side, Harlequins, in the last-16.
“I know not many people will give us a chance against them,” Baxter added.
“They dealt with Harlequins pretty easily (on Saturday) and Harlequins dealt with us pretty easily two weeks ago, so that’s it – game over.
“But that is quite a nice place to start from for us. We are not going to physically change much this week. We have just got to get our emotional batteries recharged.”