Tom Banks' red card sparks fierce debate in ACT Brumbies' Super Rugby clash with Western Force

A controversial first-half send off has divided Super Rugby fans after Brumbies fullback Banks saw red following a collision with Western Force winger Toni Pulu in a thrilling 39-38 win in Perth on Friday night.

Social media lit up with a fierce debate after the Brumbies fullback arrived at pace looking to make a try-saver as surged Pulu charged towards the line during the first half.

Had Banks gone low, Pulu was all but guaranteed to score. Banks went high and attempted to wrap his arms as Pulu stepped inside, causing a head clash before the Force flyer dropped the ball while attempting to score.

The head-to-head contact saw Banks red carded while the Force were awarded a penalty try. Some say it's a red all day. Some say it's rugby driving another nail into its own coffin.

MORE RUGBY UNION

The collision is set to sideline Banks with facial fractures, with McKellar adamant there must be an alternative to a red card for such an incident.

"No I don't, honestly I don't think it was," McKellar said on Stan Sport when asked if it was the right call to send Banks off.

"I talk about this all the time, it's a high-speed, high-collision game. Banksy is coming across at full speed, TP changes direction and there's a head clash.

"If Tom Banks has got a nasty bone in his body or goes out there to really hurt someone, then I don't know the bloke. I thought the decision was wrong. As a game we've got to look at these sorts of things.

"One thing they've got right is that it's a 20-minte red card. I'd have an orange card, a 20-minute orange card and then a red card stays for deliberate foul play, punching, gouging, whatever it might be.

"The pleasing thing about tonight was we were penalised, we were penalised for 20 minutes before we could get the full complement on with [Jesse Mogg] coming on in the 15."

The Force scored 28 points while the Brumbies were reduced to 14 men, setting the scene for a grandstand finish before the visitors escaped with a one-point win to keep their unbeaten run alive.

"Morgan Turinui said it in the call, when you're at the five-metre you have to make a ball and all tackle, otherwise the player scores a try," Australian rugby great Tim Horan said on Stan Sport.

"World Rugby now is all about the welfare of players and head collisions, and you've got to make an effort to go low. But five metres out, there's got to be some sort of mitigating factor.

"When you're the last defender as a fullback and the player is running down, you're not expecting him to step inside so your whole focus is there. All of a sudden, you're off-put by the way he steps off his right foot back in.

"It surprises you and he's going to hit you a bit closer than what you'd normally expect. It's hard, when you're a player, and the referees need to understand how that works in a game. It's a tough call."

Referee Angus Gardner suggested Pulu had stepped off his right foot before touch judge Graham Cooper seemingly talked him out of that line of thinking.

Wallabies great Justin Harrison believes Pulu changed his angle off his right foot, tucking his arm and bracing for impact with Banks.

"He knocks on the ball in the action of trying to reach out to place [the ball to score], not in the action of what Tom Banks has arrived at," Harrison said.

"Tom Banks is arriving at pace to try and get Pulu across the over the sideline."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: