Kearney has mixed views on Payne red
By Daire Walsh
Tomorrow night’s clash between Leinster and Ulster in the recently redeveloped Ravenhill has been given an extra dimension with the return from suspension of full-back Jared Payne to Mark Anscombe’s squad.
The New Zealand native was controversially dismissed just five minutes into the province’s Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Saracens in the same venue.
There has been much debate about the severity of the sanction issued to Payne for his tackle on Alex Goode, and speaking at the launch of Leinster Rugby Summer Camps yesterday, Leinster’s Rob Kearney is still uncertain on the issue.
“I still don’t know either way. I think it warranted a yellow,” he said. “You see, it is tricky because when you’re up in the air, you’re unbelievably vulnerable. The referee does have a duty of care to look after the guy who is in the air.
“The IRB sent out a four-minute video last week of high ball catches that are acceptable and unacceptable and how they deemed their level of severity. Their ruling is, regardless of whether your eyes are on the ball, you’re in the wrong [if you are on the ground]. It probably was a little harsh, the call. But, I can’t say it should definitely been a yellow and I think there was a little bit of merit to it being a red too.”
As a player who has found himself in the same position as both Payne and Goode, Kearney is adamant there was no malice intended but stressed the need for referees to protect the player challenging for aerial ball.
“There was absolutely no intent in it. There was nothing malicious about it. I 100% agree with that. But, my point is that the referee does have to look after the guy in the air.
“When you’re chasing a ball, you do one of two things. You jump up after it or you wait until the guy hits the ground and you try and hit him back. You never really get caught in between the two because you’d always know it is dangerous play.”
The return of Payne is a welcome boost for Ulster as they embark on a daunting conclusion to the RaboDirect PRO12.
Having joined the northerners in 2011, Payne will qualify for Ireland through the residency rule in autumn, and Kearney sees him as a potential replacement for the retiring Brian O’Driscoll at outside centre.
“He’s a quality player, really good. I think the things that stand out most about Jared are he has a lot of time on the ball, he’s a good defender. His distribution skills are very good and he’s got quite a clever kicking game. I’ve no doubt that when he does become eligible for Ireland that, hopefully, they will look at him at 13.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s game, Kearney was quick to dismiss the notion that Ulster will be depleted, and believes they will be favourites to come through on their home turf.
“Is it depleted that much? They are missing players but so are we. I expect a huge game. 2012 still probably rankles, the opening of the new stadium. They need to win this or else they are going to struggle to make the top four,” Kearney said.
“When you bring all of those facts together, they’re a good side. We’d have to view them as favourites.”