Wallabies and Waratahs prop Angus Bell is free to play against the Crusaders on Saturday with the SANZAAR judiciary deeming his lifting tackle against the Chiefs didn’t meet the red card threshold.
Bell, wo was facing a ban of up to six weeks, was marched by Nic Berry less than three minutes into the defeat after Sam Cane was lifted and hit the turf head first.
Chiefs teammate Angus Ta’avao assisted Cane’s body going over the horizontal and SANZAAR noted “the significant involvement of other players contributed to the incident”.
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Foul Play Review Committee found the foul play did not breach the red card threshold,” Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Michael Heron QC said in a statement.
“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a Warning as it was close to, but did not breach the red card threshold.
“The Foul Play Review Committee deemed that the significant involvement of other players contributed to the incident which produced mitigating factors.
“The player is therefore free to resume playing.”
Not everyone could make sense of the SANZAAR ruling.
New Zealand Herald writer Gregor Paul described the tackle thus before the judiciary decision was handed down: “The spear tackle by Waratahs prop Angus Bell on Sam Cane in the second minute of the opening match would have been a red card at any time in the last two decades.
“It was a wild act, ill-disciplined and entirely avoidable, just as Scott Barrett’s shoulder charge the week before against the Blues was not something rugby would previously have tolerated.”
The Roar expert Brett McKay also engaged lively debate on Twitter.
The ruling will give some comfort to the Waratahs who had the wind taken from their sails by the early red. Jamie Roberts received a yellow soon after to leave the team down to 13 for a period while they were reduced to uncontested scrums when hookers Dave Porecki and Tom Horton were off with head knocks.
The news was less encouraging on the injury front with young gun Will Harrison out for the season and will require a knee reconstruction after rupturing his ACL and MCL in the game.
All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson says he was underwhelmed by the Super Round on and off the field after the concept got off to a shaky start over the weekend.
“I’m disappointed about that, the fact that this was supposed to be a Super Round, there was supposed to be big crowds,” Wilson told The Breakdown.
“The upper tier was empty. I’m assuming they tried to sell tickets for it. I went into this weekend excited, looking forward to the contest.
“I thought there was a lot of penalties, I thought there was a lot of scrums. Once again, we had ill-discipline. I’m hoping it’s going to improve between all of these sides going forward.”
Former All Black Steven Bates told The Breakdown that Super Rugby Pacific officials should have been giving away free tickets to boost the atmosphere.
“I think as a showpiece for a Super Round, even if you’ve got to give away tickets, this is a showpiece and the stands had to be full,” Bates said.
“They’re trying to make a mark, they’re trying to make an imprint, and you look at the cameras, I was at home and the wife goes, ‘There’s a good crowd’, and the cameras pan out and then you see the top tier.
“Even if they had to give away tickets, I think they had to, to say ‘We are here, this is a Super Round, look how many people want to watch a game’.”
Wilson said his highlight of the weekend was the performance of the Fijian Drua, who lost to the Blues.
“I did enjoy the Fijian Drua, the way that they played, the enterprise, they took the Blues head on,” Wilson said.
“They weren’t good enough to get a win, but they were the one, for me, highlight out of the weekend in terms of the fact that they were there to compete and they were there to do the best they could, and it wasn’t quite enough.
“Blues, though, showed the signs of a really, really good team.”
Montpellier and England No.8 Zach Mercer is the latest player to give an insight into Eddie Jones’ blunt approach to man management.
Mercer, who played twice for England under Jones four years ago, told The Offload podcast, he’s like another shot at the big time, but he might not have done himself any favours after lifting the lid on a call with Jones before he was first selected.
“I remember the first phone call I had with him. He actually rang me and goes ‘Mate, Eddie here’ and I’m like ‘Oh, hi.’
“And he was like: ‘mate. Do you want to play for England?’ and I’m like ‘yeah’.
“And Eddie goes: ‘Well you effing don’t look like you want to play for England. You’re fat, you’re lazy.’
“I was like oh my god and go ‘Yeah’ and the phone call’s done. That’s it. It’s over.”
Mercer said he respected Jones’s style.
“I kind of like it. I respect the guy. I like the way he communicates with different people.
“I think the way I communicate with him now is completely different compared to the way I used to.
“I think he respects me a lot more that I took this opportunity and have gone to France because I wanted to develop my game.
“I think he looks at me slightly differently than he did before.
“I really enjoy speaking to Eddie when I get the opportunity. He tells me how it is and he doesn’t beat around the bush.
“I would love to play under him again at some point.”
New Zealand Rugby have locked in home Test dates for the All Blacks and Black Ferns for this year inclusing at Bledisloe Cup/ Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies on September 24 at Eden Park.
The Black Ferns kick off their Rugby World Cup preparations against Australia, Canada and the US in the Pacific Four Series this June, while the All Blacks take on Ireland in an eagerly anticipated three-test series in July, before hosting Argentina and Australia during the Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks’ 2022 Steinlager Series campaign will kick off on Saturday July 2 against Ireland at Eden Park, Auckland, the first time the two sides have clashed since they played in Dublin last November. The second and third tests are in Dunedin on July 9 and in Wellington on July 16.
The All Blacks’ home fixtures in the Rugby Championship feature two tests against Argentina in Christchurch and Hamilton, and a Bledisloe Cup test against Australia at Eden Park in Auckland on September 24. The Pumas return to New Zealand for first time since 2018, with Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch hosting the first test on August 27, and FMG Stadium Waikato hosting the second test on September 3.
2022 Pacific Four Series
Black Ferns v Australia: Monday, June 6, 2.45pm, Venue TBC
Black Ferns v Canada: Sunday, June 12, 2.45pm, Trusts Arena, Waitakere, Auckland
Blacks Ferns v US: Saturday, June 18, 4pm, Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei
2022 Steinlager Series
All Blacks v Ireland: Saturday, July 2, 7.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland
All Blacks v Ireland: Saturday, July 9, 7.05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
All Blacks v Ireland: Saturday, 16 July, 7.05pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington
2022 Rugby Championship
All Blacks v Argentina: Saturday, August 27, Kick-off time TBC, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
All Blacks v Argentina: Saturday, September 3, 7.05pm, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
2022 Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup
All Blacks vs Australia: Saturday, September 24, 7.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland
2022 Laurie O’Reilly Series
Black Ferns vs Australia: August 20, 7.05pm, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch (one of two test matches, the second to be played in Australia)
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Jacko
Roar Rookie
You tell me? Why does a Tah get special favours over other teams. Its a great question you ask.
Grev
Roar Rookie
It’s not the same of course. The plAyer has less than a second to make a decision at pace, and can do little to correct it. The ref has as many replays in slo-mo as you like plus input from other officials and then according to tribunal, still gets it wrong. Tahs lose a game. Bell loses opportunity, ref is back reffing main game a week later. Fair?
Grev
Roar Rookie
If Bell gets it wrong by accident, he’s suspended for 3 weeks. The judiciary rules Berry, not Bell got it wrong. I just want Berry out for 3 weeks. Simple
Grev
Roar Rookie
Then why wasn’t Bell suspended?
dazell
Roar Rookie
Looks like there is no conspiracy and if there is then it also involves the Brumbies and Force!!!!! If anything the Reds are a bit harder done by with one extra red card but only 1 ending in a suspension so hardly a great statistical aberration. Thanks for going to the effort to find and post the information. :thumbup:
Guess
Roar Rookie
Good example why committee is not the answer. They've been even more inconsistent than the refs
Jacko
Roar Rookie
FunBus if you want to blame me for the tackle on BOD and want to hold that against me forever I dont have a say in that. Its pretty petty to still be holding on to that some 17 years later tho. What you would find is that not one nation has a perfect diciplinary record so there has been incidences going back to the first test ever played that can be called controversial and I dont care about them. This incident happened a week ago and if we are still on about it in 17 years Ill buy you am beer and we can discuss it in full then. I will repeat that I hate the idea of anyone being put in a situation where they could end up in a wheel chair. My daughter ended up in a wheel chair at 22 yo so I have a strong personal view on these tackles as I have been involved in a recovery first hand. She spent 8 mths in a spinal unit. I know for a fact that England has had its share of grubs in it over the years so you cant claim it hasnt.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
It seems to happen when there’s more than two drinks involved (the maths seems a bit of a challenge) or if the drink contains three or more ingredients that need to be remembered. It’s only at busy times, though. Normally they’re only trusted with the cleaning.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
They seem quite smart to me if they are screwing YOUR order up FB!
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Nah, the best ‘arvo’ is to pop along to the pub where some thick, ‘backpacking’ Kiwi on minimum wage can screw my drinks order up? :happy:
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I see by your hilarious response you’re a bit embarrassed about your hypocrisy being pointed out. You should be. Not entirely sure 17 years is a lifetime ago, particularly as the universal NZ response to one of the worst acts of thuggery seen on a rugby field was denial and sneering from the moment it happened until today. I can remember that BOD incident generating about half a dozen ‘disagreements’ between me and Kiwis on here over the years and NEVER ONCE can I remember you doing anything other than join in the sneering. ‘COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LAWS?’ You self-righteously assured us above that this horrendous act had been consistently viewed since you ‘played U7s.’ You’re flailing around because you’re embarrassed. Pommie eye gouges and head butts? You mean like Loe or the flying head butt by Mealamu at Twickenham on Moody? Along with the French and Boks the ABs were always a bye-word for thuggery at international level. There’s never been a period, at least since the invention of TV, when the ‘Pommies’ at international level were anywhere near the level of AB thuggery. That really does go back a long way. One of the hardest players ever to play the game, JPR Williams, had to announce, after having his face deliberately stomped all over and raked, that he couldn’t risk playing against the ABs again because it risked his career as a surgeon.
piru
Roar Rookie
I've already got two personalities mate, you might have to rush to catch up
piru
Roar Rookie
Ok - whatever it takes to maintain the integrity of the office of referee, I'm for it
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
"If he was a kiwi he would have got a life ban" Isn't the Head of the SANSAAR Judiciary a Kiwi?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Sorry but Cane landed on his head and shoulder similtainiously. Thats red. What the Judiciary did is somehow say that a knonk on when going for a intercept is the same a a tip tackle. Both yellows now.
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Your not the sharpest knife in the draw are you! I don't support Jacko's stance at all, where in my post does it say he is right? I just don't agree with calling people names like piece of filfth. You can be a bit more inventive in a put down than that can't you? Then again maybe you can't, maybe you get all excited banging the keyboard hard typing that because it makes you feel like a MAN. Does it make you feel manly? Do you need to do this for self reinforcement as you constantly need to remind yourself your tough? What a Dullard you are!
OZ Rugby Fan
Guest
ADSA, stupid comment. Ive been on this site for many, many years with the same handle. Hardly a blow in or troll. I stand by exactly what I said. If you want to support Jacko in his assertion, you're a piece of filth too. Anyone that supports someone being deliberately dropped on their head is the same. It is nothing you should wish on any player. It's certainly hypocritical to claim to be so upset about an incident in a tackle that was clearly not deliberate, was using a very common tackle method that clearly involved other players to result in this outcome, then wish a straight up tip tackle on another player as some sort of deranged revenge. No issue with people debating the decision or punishment, but Jackos repeated comments on revenge tackles were disgusting. I bet if it was an Aussie player tipped on their head by a NZ player and anyone said the same about dropping a Kiwi on their head, Jacko would be spending his entire day baying for Aussie blood. Anyone who thinks otherwise pays no attention on this site.
Grev
Roar Rookie
Cane landed on his shoulder. The TMO said as much, trying to hose Berry down, but no. Nick loves a Red card. It’s shiney. The panel reviews, and three Independent adjudicators agree it was not a Red Card offence. But too late for Bell and the Tahs in this game. Hand on heart I hate the tahs, but this decision sucked. Go yellow, like the TMO was pushing for. Instead this ref goes Red and then he is ( correctly in my opinion) undermined by the judiciary. So will Nick Berry get binned for a few weeks instead? Please say yes, but I doubt it. I’m so bloody sick of the supportive Rugby commentators blowing smoke up ref asses. Many of them are not up to it. The moment when they get to take centre stage is too much for them. They are too keen to show they are the champions of player safety. Player safety IS critical! Yes throw the yellow cards around if they must, but if they throw a red card and get it wrong, please let’s make them accountable. These decisions affect games, affect seasons, affect careers. I loved the Tom Banks red card. “ you came at speed”! He was a cover defender….. he could have jogged I guess and there would have been no head clash.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
You have grandkids?!?! I thought you were about 16yo. Well there you go.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
Agree completely Bobby, Angus Ta'avao should have been red carded.