'Inexcusable': Six Nations fans hit out at referee Barnes

SOCIAL REACTION: Top international referee Wayne Barnes stirred up a storm online following some controversial calls during the Six Nations fixture between Ireland and France in Dublin on Saturday.

The English referee, who revealed he almost quit rugby after officiating the November Test match between France and South Africa last year, was again the focal point of a lot of online criticism on Saturday.

Barnes was given the responsibility to officiate the gigantic clash between the number one team Ireland and second-ranked France and the referee made some questionable calls against both sides.

Many Ireland fans took to Twitter to express their discontent with the referee's call to hand French prop Uini Atonio a yellow card instead of a red for a dangerous tackle on Ireland hooker Rob Herring.

The giant prop of La Rochelle clattered Ireland hooker Herring was full body contact that clearly rocked the Ulsterman’s head backwards 30 minutes into a pulsating contest.

Despite most expecting a clear red, on TMO review Barnes argued that there wasn’t a ‘high degree of danger’ despite Herring having to leave the field for an HIA, which he didn’t return from.

Clinical Lead of Rugby Player Ireland, Mark Smyth, posted: “Absolutely inexcusable from Wayne Barnes not protecting players that was a red card no debate.”

France fans also have a right to feel aggrieved by the ref, who awarded James Lowe a very controversial try.

Right after Damian Penaud's try for France, Ireland went on the attack and Lowe managed to burst his way to the line and made an acrobatic leap over the whitewash.

However, the wing was well covered by defender Penaud, who seemed to have tackled Lowe into touch.

Barnes did converse with the TMO to check the grounding but the TMO deemed the evidence was inconclusive as video replays were unable to determine if Lowe had managed to get the ball neatly over the line.

This resulted in Barnes sticking with his onfield decision and awarding the try.

However while a lot of fans praised Lowe's great finish, there were a couple of users who feels that the try should have been disallowed.

Some also questioned why other angles were not utilized during the review of the incident.

Renowned Irish commentator Ryle Nugent wrote: “First half: brilliant, breathless, physically brutal. Lowe try shouldn’t have been awarded. Atonio yellow card should have been red.

*Compiled by Leezil Hendricks