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Ofa Tu’ungafasi’s season of the All Blacks is over.
Tu’ungafasi received a three-week suspension, meaning he will miss the rest of the Tri-Nations after the All Blacks were unsuccessful in fighting a dangerous tackle charge in the judiciary.
Tu’ungafasi received a red card for a high shot over Wallaby Tom Wright in the first half of the All Blacks’ 24-22 loss in Brisbane last weekend.
Third Pickard / AP
All Blacks mainstay Ofa Tu’ungafasi receives a red card from referee Nick Berry during the loss to Australia.
The All Blacks fought the Tu’ungafasi case before a Sanzaar judicial committee hearing Tuesday night and worked hard to argue that there was a mitigation in their approach to Wright.
READ MORE:
* All blacks fight over the Ofa Tu’ungafasi case after his red card, Lachlan Swinton suspended for four weeks.
* All Blacks greats Sir John Kirwan and Christian Cullen criticized in the UK for their ‘shameful’ attitude to red cards
* All Blacks vs Australia: Does Ofa Tu’ungafasi really have a case after the red card?
* All Blacks v Australia: Lack of cool head fed Australian ‘beast’ in Brisbane
* All Blacks vs Australia: Dave Rennie says it’s ‘hard to argue’ against red cards
But Tu’ungafasi was found guilty of violating rugby law 9.13: “A player must not tackle an opponent earlier, late or dangerously”; by a three-person panel consisting of Robert Stelzner SC (chair), Lawrence Sephaka and José Luis Rolandi.
Stelzner spoke about the verdict when it was released Wednesday.
Third Pickard / AP
All Blacks mainstay Ofa Tu’ungafasi takes the walk from the field in Brisbane after his red card.
“Having conducted a detailed review of all available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including the submissions of the player and his legal representative, Stephen Cottrell, by majority decision, the judicial committee confirmed the red card under the law 9.13 “.
The judicial committee found the act of foul play worthy of a six-week mid-range entry point due to World Rugby instructions dictating that any foul play incident involving head contact must begin at a mid-range level. .
But the committee determined that Tu’ungafasi was entitled to a 50 percent reduction for mitigating factors that included pleading guilty at the earliest available opportunity and his clean court record.
Tu’ungafasi clearly made contact with Wright’s jaw with his left shoulder, but it could be said that Wright was falling at the tackle after All Black Ardie Savea hit him.
Before addressing the judiciary, All Blacks coach Ian Foster said Monday that he felt there was “some mitigation.”
“The judicial process is about being watched [the incidents] singularly and not collectively and trying to make a great philosophical decision.
“But we clearly believe there was some mitigation with the Ofa approach that we will highlight and see what happens.”
Wallabies rookie Lachlan Swinton was suspended for four weeks for his red card in the same test Saturday night.
The pair were sent off in the first half by high tackles at Suncorp Stadium, Tu’ungafasi first, in the 23rd minute, for the challenge to Wright, then Swinton saw red for his blow in the All Blacks blocking Sam Whitelock in minute 35.
The incidents have dominated post-game chat, with All Blacks greats Sir John Kirwan and Christian Cullen calling for the red cards to be removed and replaced by a reporting system.
Australians Phil Kearns and Tim Horan agreed, prompting former Irish striker Alan Quinlan to criticize their views.
“I think it’s a shame, and I’m really sick of these kinds of tackles and people making excuses that it’s going to ruin the game. What’s going to ruin the game is someone getting seriously injured. “
