The NSW Waratahs experienced mixed fortunes at two SANZAR judicial hearings in Pretoria on Saturday, with Kane Douglas suspended for two weeks and fellow lock Pat O’Connor cleared of a headbutt.
The second-rowers appeared before SANZAR judicial officer Jannie Lubbe SC following incidents in the Waratahs’ 23-17 Super Rugby loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.
Douglas was cited for a dangerous tackle and also for an act contrary to good sportsmanship.
Youngster Douglas, who started the game, executed a tackle on Bulls centre Wynand Olivier in which he was alleged to have grabbed his opponent in a headlock and flipped him over, placing his head at risk.
Earlier, Lubbe decided no further action should be taken against O’Connor after he was sent off for an alleged headbutt in the 67th minute of the game following a report from an assistant referee.
He was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that O’Connor didn’t head butt an opponent, after watching video evidence and hearing evidence from the referee, the assistant referee and the player.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey was somewhat mystified by O’Connor’s dismissal.
“I thought from my vision of it, it was just a normal cleanout,” Hickey told AAP before the hearing.
“We see 50 or 60 cleanouts in a game of rugby and I didn’t think that one wasn’t that much different to any other that occurred.
“Critical decisions are made in a game, people have got to be 100 per cent sure they’ve got it right.”
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