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All Blacks star Ardie Savea has been cited by the SANZAAR judiciary for the astonishing incident in the Super Rugby match in Melbourne.
Savea apologised for his throat-slit gesture after being yellow carded, saying it was a “brain explosion” and it was meant to mean that he was coming to “smash” his opponent during the Hurricanes’ dramatic 39-33 win over the Rebels in Melbourne.
Late on Saturday night SANZAAR revealed Savea would face a hearing on Monday.
Savea is alleged to have acted against the spirit of good sportsmanship and the incident had met the red card threshold for foul play.
The offence carries a low-end ban of four weeks but could see him ruled out for up to 12 weeks.
Savea, the brilliant All Blacks backrower and Hurricanes captain, was yellow carded after his role in inflaming a brawl on the stroke of half-time at AAMI Park.
The No.8 slung Rebels playmaker Carter Gordon to the ground after Dane Coles instigated a skirmish by putting an arm around the throat of Rebels lock Josh Canham and wrestled him to the ground. The skirmish led to an all-in push and shove in the seconds before half-time when the Hurricanes led 24-7.
Savea was shown a yellow card by referee James Doleman for his role in the ugly brawl.
Ardie Savea was shown a yellow card for slinging Carter Gordon to the ground. Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
But it was his actions in the moments after that led to an eruption on social media as Savea took exception of some clapping from Rebels halfback Ryan Louwrens and responded with a throat-slit gesture.
“Oh Ardie, 10 minutes in the bin, you’ve just got to walk,” two-time World Cup-winner Tim Horan said on Stan Sport.
Rebels back Reece Hodge attempted to bring the act to Doleman’s attention: “He’s threatening to kill him.”
Doleman took no further action, but the Melbourne faithful responded with a chorus of boos as replays showed Savea’s throat-slit gesture.
“That’s unsportsmanlike from someone like Ardie Savea,” Horan said.
“That’s a lot of frustration to go and support Dane Coles.”
The Rebels failed to capitalise on the yellow card and late opportunity as the home side’s rolling maul was defended into touch to end a spicy opening half.
Former Wallabies lock Justin Harrison hit out at Savea’s actions, saying he had never seen anything like it on a rugby field.
“Not only Ardie Savea, I don’t think I’ve seen any player make that sort of action and gesture in and amongst a game,” he said.
“Ardie Savea comes in and grabs Carter Gordon from behind and throws him to the ground. This sort of carry on. There’s different ways to get a message across.”
New Zealand pundit Joe Wheeler added: “Mils Muliaina and myself are sitting here saying, ‘You don’t need to carry on after you’ve been shown a yellow card,’ but obviously something must have happened. I’m telling you, if it wasn’t for [water boy] Jamie Mackintosh running in and grabbing Ardie Savea’s shoulder that might have been worse for Ardie.”
Speaking to reporters after the match, Savea said he could understand why his actions had received wide-spread attention and negativity.
“I was just meaning, when I come on, I’m going to try smash you,” he said.
“But I understand that can be taken in the wrong way and I apologised to the player I did it to as well after the game.
“It’s just the heat of the moment. It’s a warrior game, but I’ve got to lead by example being the skip. I got that wrong, but it’s something I can keep learning and growing from.”
Savea, as well as his coach Jason Holland, said they hoped the incident didn’t lead to any punishment.
“I’m not too sure, it’s out of my control,” Savea said.
“People can take it the way they can. It’s a heat of the moment, it’s a warrior game. You’re in there, you’re ready to battle and trying to smash each other, and there was a bit of banter going on and it got the best of me.
“Don’t worry, I got off the field and my old man called me and growled me off.”
Asked if his father is a scary man, Savea said he hadn’t experienced a phone call like it.
“He’s a pretty calm dude but it’s not often that I get a call like that after the game,” Savea said.
“My mum was in the crowd today too and she asked me if I was all good because usually I’m not like that. I called my wide, and she asked if I was all good. It was just a brain explosion for me.
“I understand the role I play with the kids watching the games. It doesn’t excuse what I did, but we make mistakes and hopefully I grow and learn from it.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.