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Otago and Highlanders midfielder Sio Tomkinson faces a long spell on the sidelines after his red card against Auckland, but All Blacks star Rieko Ioane has little sympathy for him.
“I think it is [Hickey] he’s obviously going to have headaches for a couple of days, ”Ioane told Stuff after Auckland’s 38-6 win on Saturday.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Rieko Ioane has urged Sio Tomkinson to “lower her hips” after her terrible tackle on Simon Hickey.
“To be fair, it was a pretty low shot, and I think Sio would know it, and he gets it.
I’m sorry for him [Hickey]’Hopefully he will recover quickly, but he looked pretty bad. “
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Tomkinson was sent off for an ugly high throw over Hickey in the final stages of the game, and has already been sent off this year for an inning to Brumbies fullback Tom Banks when he was playing for the Highlanders.
His last offense was made all the more shocking because the game ended as a contest long before he ran off the defensive line and smashed into Hickey’s head.
“You never want to go out and hurt anybody on the other team, and you never want to do that on purpose,” Ioane said.
“If he [Tomkinson] he did … in a way I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t, but in the end it looked pretty bad. “
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Sio Tomkinson charges Auckland’s Simon Hickey at the end of Saturday’s game in Dunedin.
In his prime, Tomkinson is a confrontational defender who can make a difference with his physique, but Ioane said he still has significant work to do on his technique.
“He’s a tough hitter, he’s always been since he went to school, and he just needs to lower his hips,” Ioane said.
“If it goes down a lot, it will align people.”
Ioane was also coming to terms with losing the Rugby Championship to Australia, meaning the All Blacks could be based in Australia for up to three months.
The painful reality of being away from family was already starting to take its toll, but Ioane said the All Blacks would just have to grit their teeth and get on with the job.
Tracey Nearmy / Getty Images
Sio Tomkinson receives a yellow card against the Brumbies earlier this year. He was later cited and suspended for three games.
“I’ve heard a little bit about the NBA leaving, our own Disneyland for quite some time,” he said.
“At the end of the day, they will figure something out, or hopefully things will change and we can see our families.
“But if we go there, we will go there to do a job, and I know there are a lot of young enthusiasts who will want to get over it, and they will consume that energy.
“Hopefully time will fly fast and we’ll be back before Christmas before you know it.”
Michael Bradley / Getty Images
Rieko Ioane says new parents like TJ Perenara from Wellington will face a ‘tough time’ if they travel with the All Blacks to Australia for the Rugby Championship.
Still, Ioane was sympathetic to the plight of the All Blacks’ new team dads, who might miss out on those first few months of parenthood.
“It is what it is,” Ioane said. “You take the good with the bad, but the last part is going to be a bit heavy.
“From the top of my head TJ [Perenara] and richie [Mo’unga] they are new parents.
“It is not something they want to do, but I think it is something they have to do.
“Everyone will support them, but it will definitely be a difficult time for them.”
