Dylan Hartley v Wayne Barnes v Richard Cockerill

Despite the fact it was entirely his fault, and it’s hardly the only disciplinary blemish on his career, I can’t help feeling slightly sorry for Dylan Hartley.

Not because I believe his story about his eloquent “f****** cheat” being aimed at Tom Youngs as opposed to referee, and Stuart Broad-lookalike, Wayne Barnes.

Twickenham was stunned by Dylan Hartley’s red card – especially at my end, where we couldn’t see the colour of the card Wayne Barnes showed

But the fact a second of madness – undoubtedly borne out of a frustration at the way the first half of the Premiership final had ended, with a Stephen Myler mistake and a collapsed scrum giving Leicester the chance to extend their lead by three cheap points – has cost Hartley his Lions place and, possibly, Saints the title.

Even so, you’ve got to commend Barnes for having the guts to show Hartley a straight red card for an incident which a less authoritative referee (and, dare I say it, most football referees) could easily have got away with pretending it had never happened. It’s good to see some officials sticking up against abuse.

The RFU should be praised, too, for the speed in which they convened a hearing and handed Hartley an 11-week ban. It gave Rory Best the chance to get on the plane to Australia straight away, even if it was disappointing Warren Gatland didn’t decide to heed my advice to #callforKen (Owens).

 
Anyway, the RFU has to deal with Leicester coach Richard Cockerill who, let’s face it, is guilty of almost as much as Hartley.

Cockerill came racing down the steps from his coaching position to berate the fourth official after what he believed – probably wrongly – to be a late hit by Saints second row Courtney Lawes on Tigers captain Toby Flood. In effect, Cockerill was also questioning the competence of the officials, if not outright accusing them of cheating. Respecting the referee applies as much to players on the field as to coaches off it.

Oh, and it’s been a bit overshadowed, but the game itself wasn’t bad either.

Leicester Tigers 9-5 Toulouse

Now the risk of hypothermia has passed, I can fully appreciate what an epic of a match it was. Not a try-fest, not filled with thrills, spills and skills, but an intriguing, old-fashioned encounter.

Tigers officials clear snow from the Welford Road pitch before Leicester’s 9-5 Heineken Cup pool 2 win over Toulouse on Sunday, January 20, 2013

You couldn’t ask for any more: a clash between two of club rugby’s biggest names – the two sides have won the Heineken Cup six times between them (out of 18) – with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. A game which was in the balance until the very last play. A sell-out crowd at Welford Road.

And more than a dusting of snow, which meant the game was littered with mistakes.

In all honesty, Toulouse, who scored the game’s only try through Yoann Huget, should have won. They would have done so easily if Lionel Beauxis and Luke McAllister hadn’t conspired to miss all five of their side’s efforts at goal. By contrast, Toby Flood converted three of his four place kicks.

But Leicester’s defensive effort meant there could be no complaints at the home win, which was met with delirium at the final whistle – although that might have been mainly because it meant the crowd could, at last, find shelter from the snow.