Champion Wallaby fullback Israel Folau last night lost his appeal against a one-match suspension from the third Test against Ireland last Saturday.
The suspension means he will miss the crucial Super Rugby top of the table clash tonight for the Waratahs in Melbourne against the Rebels,
Waratahs skipper Michael Hooper will also miss out with a hamstring injury.
This will be Folau’s first suspension since he joined the rugby ranks in 2013, with the decision a blight on the code.
He should never have been cited in the first place.
Rugby is supposed to be the game they play in heaven, but World Rugby makes it a hell with far too many rules, and not enough common sense.
Folau was charged with “clawing” Irish skipper Peter O’Mahony’s chest in a kick-off collision contesting possession n the ninth minute.
Really?
French referee Pascal Gauzere saw nothing wrong with the way O’Mahony fell awkwardly, thanks to CJ Stander’s failure lifting his skipper to lose control.
Stander did exactly the same in the 31st minute, resulting in Gauzere binning Folau for 10 minutes, with O’Mahony stretchered off and taking no further part in the game.
Yet Folau was cited for the first incident and Singapore’s Shao Wang, as the judicial officer, handed down a one-match suspension.
How a judicial officer represented World Rugby from a third Tier rugby nation to officiate on a first Tier matter beggars belief.
Horses for courses.
At least last night the three hearing Folau’s appeal via video link were from first Tier countries – Antony Davies (England), Beth Dickens (Scotland), and Olly Kohn from Wales.
Folau was represented by Wallaby skills coach Mick Byrne, and lawyer Steve Cottrell.
They had plenty of ammunition supporting Folau’s innocence, but it fell on deaf ears.
Something about the decision last night fails the smell test.
Australian referee Angus Gardner red-carded French fullback Benjamin Fall in the 11th minute for upending Beauden Barrett in the All Blacks’ 26-13 win.
World Rugby’s judicial committee reversed the decision, adding Gardner was wrong to send Fall off.
Hold the phone.
How can Gauzere fail to see anything wrong with the Folau-O’Mahony clash, yet the Citing Commissioner could, and a third Tier judicial official saw a one-match suspension necessary?
Yet another World Rugby panel saw fit to make Gardner look like a goose, and reversed his red-card decision.
Three totally different results from roughly the same incidents.
Little wonder rugby fans, and even the players and coaches, have had enough of the governing body’s inconsistency.
There’s a simple answer – ban lifting at kick-offs, and let the contestants go for possession one-on-one.
Stander was the culprit in both incidents last Saturday night, but he’s got off scot free, while O’Mahony is carted off, and Folau cops a holiday.
Where’s the justice in that?
One thing for sure, if World Rugby rules a one-on-one contest at the kick-off, Israel Folau will win every time as the undisputed world’s best aerial footballer.
Is Folau paying for that status now?
We’ll never know because World Rugby, or the original IRB, have been incapable of making sane decisions since I first started covering rugby 53 years ago.
In all that time the governing body has consistently shot itself in the foot.
Philip O'Donovan
Guest
Seems all independant adjudicators found Folau guilty,while you continue to try a pin the blame on Stander.It s fortunate that such decisions are judged by neutrals as opposed to bias journalists.
Morsie
Guest
A still shot of a very brief moment in time never tells the whole story, it tells the story you want it to.
double agent
Guest
This is true Harry. I played for many years at a level miles below the experts on TV yet I am constantly surprised to hear former internationals and other paid TV experts display an ignorance of the rules.
double agent
Guest
Although this post is 100% accurate it could be used in a dictionary as an example of nitpicking!!
RahRah
Roar Rookie
The TMO also states their was no foul play. Next?
dazell
Roar Rookie
If you only look at the still picture that is how it appears but his arm ends up there because the lifter loses his grip on Mahoney and Mahoney's body falls into Folau who then is forced to try and balance himself by grabbing Mahoney.
Fox
Roar Guru
Yeah isn't it called AFL :)
Englishbob
Guest
No real complaints from the SA Eng series but the standard of refereeing in the two trans Tasman series came close to ruining the series and in the case of the nz one it plainly did kill any hope of a contest. I never really bought into the pro kiwi reffing conspiracy but in those games they received not just the rub of the green but a cuddle and cab fare aswell. The AB prop received nothing for inflicting a head high skull fracture on the French flanker, that was a red every day of the week. Folaus wasn't a penalty and it certainly wasn't a card or citing, under his own steam he competed, made contact and c.j stander let go of his captain six feet in the air and he landed heavily. For my money the younger referees were trying to be decisive and just rushed or over thought some incidents. Having watched a lot of Rugby League from the UK and Australia recently the flow of the games is now streets ahead of union sadly
Bakkies
Guest
Yeah like Cameron de Clyne
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
The players all saw the incident – play on. - Irrelevant the role of the player is to play not officiate The referee saw the incident – play on. - Irrelevant the referee is not omniscient - that's why we have a TMO The assistant referees both saw the incident – play on. - irrelevant as per above.
RahRah
Roar Rookie
“The referee and the (two) assistant referees reported that they saw the incident but all three indicated that they felt both players were in a realistic position to compete for the ball,” the judiciary heard in evidence. “None of them thought the fall was due to the foul play. One of the assistant referees added that he thought the fall was due to a ‘lifting issue’. “The TMO reported that on live viewing, he felt that the contest was fair but due to the heavy fall of Ireland 7, he had asked the TMO technician to freeze-frame both players at the point of contact in the air again. The TMO’s comments were: ‘I was determined that both players at the point of contact were in a realistic position to catch the ball. On the night I then deemed (still whilst momentarily looked at different angles as play continued) that although the players arms became interlocked and Ireland 7 falls awkwardly, there was no clear action of foul play’.”
Harry Jones
Expert
I think we, at the Roar. can do better than this. No “tiers” in officiating or adjudicating. All rugby lovers and experts welcome and fully included.
Roger
Guest
"Please Explain" :)
Jerry
Guest
TWAS, you're generally a reasonably astute poster but you've gotten absurdly hung up on the wording of the laws. This is a mistake, the laws of rugby are terribly drafted and wouldn't stand up to a first year law student's examination. You can't drape an arm around someone and pull them down in the air. Simple.
Misha
Guest
Why are there now three articles all defending athletically leaping & "never draped my arm anywhere" Foleau - you all protest too much?
Misha
Guest
David says - Fiddley-dee Fiddley dee potato!
piru
Roar Rookie
cos her name is all funny like
Paulo
Roar Rookie
And Heeellooo.... Kirwin... God save us...
Fox
Roar Guru
Derm that is exactly what they indeed said and that statement is a complete misrepresentation of what they actually said - more poor research and I think if you are running around as a so-called :expert" then its about time certain people acted like one by doing their research properly - that is what experts do is it not even in sports journalism . I and others have pulled DL up on more than one occasion in the last 18 months about his bad research on different things or in some cases, clear lack of knowledge on some issues and aspects of the game. This is not at all unfair criticism as the writer has history of being lacking in this area and DL needs to cop it sweet and perhaps take the bull by the horns and address it. I mean seriously DL com'on enough already!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No. That's what the official World Rugby wording stated.