Tom Curry’s sending-off against Argentina in England’s opening Rugby World Cup game has polarised opinion by many observers on Saturday evening.

The flanker, who was making his first appearance since the Premiership final, was given his marching orders by referee Matthieu Raynal just three minutes into the clash in Marseille.

He was judged to have made a dangerous tackle on Argentina full-back Juan Cruz Mallia after the outside back leapt into the air to catch a high ball.

The TMO notified Raynal of the incident, and the official sent the tackle to be reviewed by the Foul Play Review Bunker – who upgraded his yellow card to a red.

Reaction to Tom Curry’s red card

The reaction to the decision split the public on X, formerly known as Twitter, and clearly angered former England fly-half Freddie Burns.

“Winds me right up. Curry no real intent, can’t let the guy run through him, red. Carreras opportunity not the flatten Ford but decides to do it anyways, yellow. I’m know I’m English and slightly bias, but I don’t understand it. Both yellows for me,” he posted after the review bunker did not upgrade Santiago Carreras’ yellow card.

Meanwhile, 2003 World Cup-winning English number eight Lawrence Dallaglio felt that the decision was “Harsh”, but he was pleased by the players’ response to the sending-off.

Curry is the latest England player to be red carded this year and third in four matches, a stat that RugbyInsideLine pointed out in a meme.

Former international fly-half and now pundit Andy Goode felt that the right decision was made.

“Correct call to give Curry a red card, upright and head on head,” he wrote.

And there were some that agreed with Goode.

“Curry literally gets a free run at Mallia and is elite enough to make an educated judgement on his landing. Not asking Curry to chop him at the ankles, literally just bend his hips. We’ve seen Curry nail people, let’s stop absolving him of responsibility. Hold him accountable,” one onlooker wrote.

Josh Gardner responded to that post, writing: “This. There was a great opportunity for Curry to get low and properly fold him, which would have been legal and a more impactful play. Instead, he was lazy and reckless, and instead of taking responsibility for that, the RFU are gonna put another sports car in a KC’s garage.”

“Curry red card is a joke!”

But there were more that disagreed.

South African journalist Jon Cardinelli thought it “was a harsh yellow in real-time.” and added: “But a red?”Malilla is catching a high ball, and lands on Curry. Defender very unlucky.”

Fellow South African and former Springbok Kobus Wiese called the decision a joke.

“Curry red card is a joke! Nothing more than a rugby collision, now turned into a game-changing decision!” his post read.

Popular rugby account Oom Rugby was shocked.

“whaaaaaaaat? Red card for Curry ?! i did not think even think it was fair to call it a yellow. that is a crazy red. poor decision in my opinion,” his post read.

Journalist Neil Fissler agreed, posting: “We might as well pack up and stop playing rugby. No way is that a red card. It’s a contact sport. There was no intent from Tom Curry to hurt anyone, and it was not reckless.”

While another comment read: “Sorry, I’m not remotely an England fan, but Tom Curry getting a red for that is genuinely outrageous. What the f**k.”

Meanwhile, Opta Jonny confirmed that Curry now holds the unwanted record for the quickest red card.

Their post read: “3 – Tom Curry’s 3rd-minute red card was the earliest for any player in men’s Rugby World Cup history and England’s first at the tournament overall. Blow.”

READ MORE: George Ford drop-goal masterclass helps 14-man England dismantle dismal Argentina

The article ‘Genuinely outrageous’ – Tom Curry’s Rugby World Cup red card splits opinion appeared first on Planetrugby.com.