The Western Force have suffered a huge blow with strike centre Tevita Kuridrani rubbed out of their historic Super Rugby AU preliminary final against the Brumbies on Saturday night.
Kuridrani has been suspended for three games for a dangerous tackle on Hunter Paisami in the Force’s finals-sealing 30-27 upset win over the Queensland Reds last Friday night in Perth.
The former Wallabies centre was among the Force’s best performers but received a yellow card for the second-minute offence.
The citing commissioner deeming the tackle had actually met the red-card threshold for foul play.
The SANZAAR foul play review committee of chairman Adam Casselden, Mike Mika and Stefan Terblanche subsequently found Kuridrani guilty via a video-conference hearing and banned the midfield powerhouse for three games.
In his finding, Casselden noted that Kuridrani, who pleaded guilty, acted recklessly rather than intentionally in placing Paisami in a vulnerable position.
With Paisami not injured, and taking into account Kuridrani’s relatively good judicial record over a long career, the veteran No.13 was only outed for three games instead of a potential six matches or more.
Former All Black Richard Kahui is likely to replace Kuridrani in the starting line-up as the Force look to continue their giant-killing run at GIO Stadium.
The Force have made the playoffs of a Super Rugby competition for the first time in their 16-year existence.
The winner of the Brumbies-Force match will face the Reds in the final on May 8 at Suncorp Stadium.
Melbourne forwards Isi Naisarani and Pone Fa’amausili were outed for three games for high tackles, both on NSW lock Max Douglas during the Rebels’ 36-25 win over the Waratahs last Saturday night.
The pair won’t be available again until the Rebels’ round-four trans-Tasman Super Rugby clash with the Chiefs in Hamilton on June 5.
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
I would've thought that common sense would easily prevail on this. Are we going to wait until a player has his neck broken before players, coaches and fans get the simple bloody message that the sport has to rid itself of dangerous contact and actions, and enjoy the beauty of the game while also drawing a clear line where the threshold for permanent injury starts becoming scarily real? We're seeing people on this forum defending these very dangerous past practices. Are these same people going to put their hand up and volunteer to become a paraplegic for the rest of their lives through another players brain snap or uber aggressive/illegal tackle? Are they going to give permission for their children to participate in the game with this risk? I think not. In our society, there are laws now severely punishing the idiots out there who drink too much, and then go randomly punch someone in the head who fall down, hit their head hard, and die as a result of one punch. They get 15 or 20 years in jail for that. It only takes one brain snap action by one person to have devastating consequences for the other person going about their business. It's the same with footie. On a slightly less life and death note, longitudinal studies have clearly proved the long term damage being done to brains via significant concussions and/or repeated concussions as endured in contact sports, and especially footie and boxing. I fail to understand how and why we cant enjoy the game of rugby AND have appropriate laws of the game, with consistent officiating, and all clubs, coaches, players taking responsibility for as much as possible for removing the risks for serious and permanent injury. I find those undermining or disagreeing with the modern push for tougher laws/officiating/judiciary on dangerous play as bazaar, and indefensible in the face of the human toll these actions can have; which is plain to see.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
Much better distributor. But ben Len Ikitau is "relieved" TK had a bit to prove to Brumbies as well.
Fin
Roar Rookie
Stop using facts to ruin a good story. Now we are left with no option but to point the finger at Paisami as the common problem. Maybe he is just to top heavy.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: Yep, there should be zero tolerance for tip tackles, and if they fail to get that on the field, it won’t be long to the lawyers step in off the field, and that could get ugly for the game…
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Carn Barbarians, do it for Tevita! Cheers KP
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
An absolutely disgusting decision. Rugby is so paranoid at getting sued by a parent or retired old boy it’s lost sight of the fact this is a contact sport. Tevitas yellow was more than enough.
RahRah
Roar Rookie
You mean he doesn’t tip people on their heads? :laughing:
RahRah
Roar Rookie
As much as I’d like to (blue glasses on) I just can’t argue the outcome of the judiciary’s decision. I think we also need to look at it in light of the 20 minute red card rule. I am a fan of the 20 minute rule but in order to stop any potential exploitation, any offending player must be dealt with consistently and to the full extent of the applicable rules and sanctions. In other words we will not penalize your team for the full match but you personally can expect the full weight of the law for any foul play.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Just shows you how wrong Murphy's decision was not to give a red card at the time. He needs to brush up on his laws & guidelines for foul play. Very embarrassing for a SR level ref not to know this stuff.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
He only put his arm out to save himself. The refs look at what would hit the ground if no self preservation is taken. His head still hit the ground after his actions. Red card clearly, you just can't put someone in this dangerous position.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
The saving grace might have been that the tackle was executed so close to the ground, so the lift was not as high as it might have been...
ScottD
Roar Guru
I agree but I was relieved with yellow on the night
ScottD
Roar Guru
'cos he was stupid
ScottD
Roar Guru
No, pretty consistent .
ScottD
Roar Guru
It’s a conspiracy to make sure the Force don’t win the final :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly:
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah so could Paisami’s neck.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah! If only a player from another team had done something similar so we could show the hypocrisy of the judiciary! https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/02/22/waratahs-perese-banned-for-three-matches/
robel
Roar Pro
His arm hit the ground first, hence yellow, hence 3 weeks is excessive.
robel
Roar Pro
A 3 game ban is a joke, absolute max it was worth was 2, any other team would have been given 1 week. Where's the consistently in this judgment.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
TK thought he was gone so lucky only deemed yellow but the powers to be believe it should have been red hence the suspension. It would have only been another 10min with 14 men. The Refs are looking for mitigating factors as they don't want to be sending players off, tough job.