Scotland’s task of knocking over in-form Australia in this weekend’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final has become a lot tougher after two of their best forwards were suspended.
Hooker Ross Ford and second-rower Jonny Gray were both handed three-week bans by World Rugby on Tuesday for dangerous tackles during last Saturday’s World Cup pool match against Samoa.
The Wallabies face Scotland at Twickenham on Sunday (Monday 0200AEDT) with the winner to move into a semi-final against either Ireland or Argentina.
Ford and Gray face missing the rest of the World Cup given they would only have three matches left if they win all the way through to the final.
They have 48 hours to appeal the decision.
Their two-man tip tackle put Samoa flanker Jack Lam on his head.
A spokesman for the national team said they were “disappointed” by Judicial Officer Christopher Quinlan QC’s decision, adding: “We will consider carefully the full written judgment before making a decision on any future action.”
Both Ford and Gray denied committing an act of foul play but Quinlan ruled otherwise.
World Rugby’s statement on the case said: “Tackles involving a player being lifted off the ground and tipped horizontally and were then either forced or dropped to the ground must be dealt with severely by match officials and all those involved in the disciplinary process.”
Meanwhile, Scotland prop Gordon Reid hopes Scotland can script themselves a victory of Hollywood proportions when they take on World Cup A-listers Australia.
Few – if any – seriously believe that Vern Cotter’s side can upstage the Aussies in London and clinch a first semi-final slot in 24 years.
But Reid is refusing to write off his team and has taken heart from the underdog tales which have inspired so many movie classics.
“It’s not just any team we are up against this weekend, it’s Australia – one of the biggest teams in the world,” he said.
“But we’ve got a bit of belief about us now. Anything can happen.
“Everyone is writing us off as underdogs. I don’t care. It’s awesome. Just look at the movies. It’s always the underdog who wins – just look at the Mighty Ducks. We can be those Mighty Ducks.”
Scotland suffered a Six Nations whitewash earlier this year but have responded with an impressive display of single-mindedness, shrugging off the Japanese shock troops, dodging another banana skin laid down by the United States before withstanding a surprise Samoan onslaught to escape Pool B, with defeat to South Africa their only blemish.
wardad
Guest
What ? Your a Gorne ? Like on the original Star-Trek ? A reptilian critter ? Or a Goon ? Either fits .
Fairly Rucked
Roar Rookie
Yes I saw one or two where Savea looked like he might have. hence saying not sure if it proved your point or mine. Anyway enough said, bring on Scotland.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Damn edit function didn't work. I think Tuilagi also normally hits with his upper body / lowered shoulder to bump off the hits, it is just this one went wrong. For mine, Tuilagi's suspension is no different than citing someone for a headclash sustained during an attempted tackle as if it were a deliberate headbutt. It just isn't right.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Yeah it's a fair point you make (as is the one about tackling above - I had a chuckle, I deserved that response from you) - I think at full flight it is easier to keep the knees down, Tuilagi had slipped about five or six paces earlier and was pumping the legs a little harder. Certainly he raised his knee and leaned forward dropping his shoulder to try and protect his hips and midriff from a tackle, I cannot for the life of me consider it foul play though. 0:40 on the vid you linked shows Savea with that same lifted knee from the side. The difference is that the English winger is bigger than the Japanese one (and shows better technique) so the knee doesn't collect his head.
Fairly Rucked
Roar Rookie
Your comment on Savea had me interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G-4UFmf94A Savea Big Hits it is called. HD even. Not sure if it proved your point or mine but definitely worth watching. He seems to more hit with his upper body but with low body height. I don't see any knees being lifted into the chest of tackling players. But hard to tell on some of the angles he could well be doing that. If he is I would hesitate to say he might want to adjust that otherwise he might lose some game time?
Fairly Rucked
Roar Rookie
Watch again. Funny how he only lifts his knee "THAT HIGH" just as he is about to be tackled. Rugby League banded lifting the knee into tackles back in the 90's as it was deemed dangerous. Saying Lomu did it doesn't make it ok. That was 20 years ago, loads of dangerous stuff that was ok then is now illegal now. Just watch 10 mins of Lomu highlights on YouTube. That made my day... : ) Ouch... Although most of the time he used speed and swerve to avoid tackles. Also that huge palm-off destroyed lighter players. Not sure about Savea, all I will say is I was not aware of him lifting his knee into tacklers in the Super rugby this year. Anyway my point is it is dangerous and should be cut out of rugby. If you don't thinks so then that's your call. But given he was banded for it maybe you might want to consider it is a possibility? Also two can play that game. You do understand the mechanics of tackling don't you? Kind of hard not to lead with the head? Don't you mean it's about where you place your head...
DiploMatt
Guest
I'm not convinced that it is that black and white, RK. What did you make of the Konrad Hurrell incident with Topou? Are they comparable?
Red Kev
Roar Guru
You have to lift your knees when running. You are aware of the mechanics of running right? That is exactly (and I do mean exactly) the same brace for contact position that Julian Savea takes and that Jonah Lomu took into contact one on one - it is how you run over people when you are that size. The only contributing factor was that the Japanese player had horrible body position and technique in the tackle. He lead with the head and copped a knee. 100% not Tuilagi's fault. The Alesana Tuilagi citing and suspension is a disgrace.
Insane
Guest
Sounds like latu and skelton and both got banned for that one.
Michael
Guest
I agree, but only one tackler (Grey) did the damage and inverted the player.
Fairly Rucked
Roar Rookie
Type "Ross Ford and Jonny Gray" into youtube and have a look at the cleanout. Then tell me they do not deserve some form of punishment? I think they were lucky not to get carded in the game. Follow that logic though and they would all be watching from the highlands sipping whiskey this weekend instead of two of them. Samoa almost piped the Scots in the game, any yellow card or two would have given Samoa the edge. Aust would have been playing Japan this weekend. Alesana Tuilagi’s knee was dangerous. Watch as he runs into the Japanese player he clearly lifts his knee into his chest (maybe head). Anyone comparing that to Pocock's ruck incident is kidding himself. O'Brien's backhand slap (or punch) into the chest... Hard to tell? Did the French guy milk it a little? Would like to see other camera angles. All things being considered the consistency is something I am sure the Citing Officers are striving towards. I am sure there is absolutely no corruption to even infer there is... well simply delusional. All this is about safety. I don't want to see any player with a broken neck, broken collar bone or broken jaw. Yes it is a contact sport and should remain so but tip tackles, high shots, lifting the knee into a tackle or punches should be dealt with harshly. I want my boys to play when they get older and want these things out of the game so no problem with harsh rulings on foul play.
Roberts
Guest
Regardless of the nationality of the judiciary officer the tackle was worth one week at least. IF Scotland beats the wallabies then they can feel aggrieved... But I thought from the footage that it was a very dangerous tackle by both players forcing the Samoan player down from a near inverted vertical position and causing his head to sharply turn to the side upon impact. Very surprised this didn't cause any damage.
DiploMatt
Guest
The Scots were not hard done by. We don't want to see another person end up in a wheel chair because of a dangerous tackle in a game of Rugby.
OZ Rugby Fan
Guest
They showed the Scottish tip tackle on the news last night, it did look really bad actually, I'm not surprised by the 3 weeks at all. I would be more concerned if they got less on appeal as this is one type of offence you want to see eradicated from the game.
Nobrain
Guest
Take a look at the front page of planet rugby . They have an article questioning the citings and sanctions.
Tycoch22
Guest
Apparently Pocock was given an after game yellow. I assume this means he should have got a yellow at the time of the incident. Would that have resulted in a different game result outcome. SOB should have got a red, and consequently might well have led to a France victory. So Ref, linesmen and TMO missed two events that could have decided the game. Given the TMOs have been constantly interfering I find it amazing they missed Pocock and SOB actions - especially SOB.
Tycoch22
Guest
The scrum laws call for the ball to be put in straight between the opposing hookers. When did you last see that happen. The tackle laws call for the person who is tackled to immediately play, place or release the ball. When did you last see that happen. It seems incredible to me that there is apparently not one referee officiating at Test level who knows the meaning of "straight" or "immediately" So I am with Sean Turner the mob running IRB/World Rugby need to be shown the door.
Vman
Guest
Samoan = 5 weeks for running into a player while carrying the ball. (What sort of rugby payer does such a thing!!!!) Irish = 1 week for deliberate punch. I'm calling it racist. One thing is certain the process needs reform.
Lancaster Bomber
Guest
Agree with much of what you said Sean. Whole system from refs to TMOs to citing procedures are very inconsistent and clearly having Aussie citing 2 Scots this week doesn't look good. Unfortunately I haven't seen the tip tackle so can't judge for myself, but as we all know, what one person sees as blatantly obvious another sees quite the opposite. I would like to see foul play punished, but if it occurs from retaliation to cynical play, then both offences should be carded. With enough cameras at the WC they can monitor most offences. Hopefully that would deter this type of play. Also if a player takes a dive and rolls around they could draw attention to their own infringement and risk being binned on their own if the retaliation was not deemed to be a strike eg. Hooper push against Argentina.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Sean first of all you are factually wrong in some areas. Pocock's knee made contact with the chest not the back. The reviewers did have more camera angles to review than the one you saw as well. Gray / Ford - Clean record was a mitigating factor. They were given 4 weeks as an entry, and extra 1 week to discourage lifting tackles making it 5 weeks, then 2 weeks off for good record. OBrien - His punch was not to the head and open handed so was considered entry level wich is 2 weeks, his clean record got that halved to 1 week. Overall I do agree that the citings and subsequent bans are inconsistent and the system needs an overall. The scrum is BETTER with these laws. There are less collapses. There is also less room for illegalities. The old laws was about winning the hit, the LHP prop getting under the THP, if not happy with hit then collapse. The new laws are about a genuine contest and core strength matters a lot more now.