Wales international Jake Ball was lucky not to see red for a dangerous shoulder charge to the head of Sale scrumhalf Faf de Klerk.
Watch: Wiese bulldozes his way to the tryline
Footage shows Ball running around the ruck to tackle the diminutive scrumhalf after the referee had ruled the ball was out. The Wales second rower then tucks in his arm and drives his shoulder into the back of De Klerk’s head.
How was this shot to the head of Faf de Klerk by Jake Ball not checked properly by the TMO and referee?! They said it was legal because the hand was on and the ball was out, how about the shoulder to head?! French officials hey….pic.twitter.com/GGx5Gu1bg2
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) April 4, 2021
De Klerk and his Sale teammates can be seen remonstrating with the referees after the incident but it came to nothing. De Klerk and Ball have some history going back to the World Cup semi-final where the two players were caught up in a war of words.
Wonder if this has anything to do with it. pic.twitter.com/d6YYXt6eXc
— ???????Annibyniaeth Jones??????? (@Antonoire) April 5, 2021
As in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, however, De Klerk had the last laugh as Sale convincingly dominated Ball’s Scarlets side to win 57-14.
