France saw their Grand Slam ambitions dissipate against Scotland on a tough afternoon at Murrayfield after tighthead prop Mohamed Haouas collected a costly red card as France's bid for a Six Nations Grand Slam triumph was comprehensively ended in a 28-17 defeat to Scotland.
The fracas involving Haouas and Ritchie took the match away from the visitors, the blow to the Scotland man's head the most serious incident in a clash involving multiple players from both sides.
France team manager Raphael Ibanez has since said that he has put in a request to the Six Nations to have a look into an alleged eye-gouging by Scotland loose forward Nick Haining.
The incident Ibanez is referring to is said to have kicked off the scuffle.
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However, referee Paul Williams and as well as his support staff - Wayne Barnes (England), Frank Murphy (Ireland) and TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland) - did overlook a key law in determining the outcome of the scuffle.
While it is understandable that Nick Haining's alleged eye gouge was missed or dismissed, Williams and his support did fail to penalise Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie for his punching.
Ritchie landed a few punches on Haouas while on the ground after Gael Fickou tackled the flanker to the floor.
In doing so, Ritchie was guilty of breaking two laws:
Law 9.12: "A player must not physically or verbally abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area, striking with any part of the arm (including stiff-arm tackles), shoulder, head or knee(s), stamping, trampling, tripping or kicking."
And
Law 9.21: "A player must not retaliate."
Therefore, the decision to penalise and red card Mohamed Haouas was completely correct, but the penalty should have been reversed in France's favour with Ritchie also departing the pitch.
Ritchie should have a received a card (probably a yellow card) as well and France should have got the penalty.
Instead, Scotland got the penalty and took the three points. Scotland would score 15 of their 28 points in the 10 minutes following Haouas' red card - the time Ritchie would have been in the bin had he been sin binned.
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones also backed up this rule when he spoke of keeping his cool after Joe Marler's grabbing incident "I've got 138 Tests for my country," Jones told a post-match news conference. "If I react, I get a red card. It's tough, isn't it?
France were comprehensively outplayed by Scotland, who were the better side on the day, but the French can feel let down by the officials on the day.
