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Anton Lienert-Brown will miss the start of the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship campaign after being handed a three-week suspension for his hit on Dallas McLeod in the Super Rugby Pacific final.
The Chiefs centre Lienert-Brown has been suspended up to and including July 29, during which time the All Blacks play Tests against Argentina, South Africa and Australia. There is a suggestion in NZ media that he could return a week earlier if he completes a World Rugby intervention program.
The incident occurred in the eighth minute of the match between the Chiefs and Crusaders at FMG Stadium. Referee Ben O’Keeffe gave him a yellow and it was not upgraded to a 20-minute red card on review.
Australian commentators Morgan Turinui and Justin Harrison were adamant the attempted tackle was red card worthy.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) reviewed the citing for Lienert-Brown
“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 upheld the citing under Law 9.13,” Foul Play Review Committee Chair Michael Heron KC ruled.
“With respect to sanction, the Foul Play Review Committee held the act of foul play was reckless, with direct head-to-head contact made, high force and no significant mitigating factors present. The FPRC found the incident was dangerous and, after considering the relevant factors, decided the foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks. Taking into account mitigating factors, including the Player’s exemplary record and guilty plea, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension by three weeks.”
“In addition to the 3 weeks’ suspension, the FPRC has determined that the player is granted access in the application for the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme”.
The incident was one of several contentious decisions in the match by O’Keeffe, who gave three yellow cards against the Chiefs. He posted on Instagram that the abuse he received had crossed a line.
“Unfortunately, as a union referee at the highest level, I have had to accept and grow accustomed to the post-match vitriol that fans normalise post game,” O’Keeffe wrote.
“It’s a sad reality that it doesn’t affect me anymore, but that doesn’t mean it’s ok.
“I think back to the Europa League Final [football] referee walking through the airport and his family getting chairs thrown at them – I hope my family is never subjected to this but the direction some fans are going now in rugby, I know we are closer than we have ever been.
“This is one of many recent examples when someone has crossed the line towards a match official in Rugby.
“Referees are part of the game, and we need support from players and coaches to have the tough conversations privately but to publicly back and support their officials – not criticise. This will change the way the fans treat us.
“Abuse is out there and for anyone going through it right now in any form please understand there is support there, people do love you, there is help available and if all else fails, send me a message and I would be happy to talk with you.
“Let’s celebrate the season, let’s celebrate what was a great final from the players.
“There were some excellent decisions, and some poor ones that I accept I made and need to improve on – continual growth is something that excites me to be better for the game.
“We need Rugby to be the best game in the world, on and off the field – let’s do it together.”
Wales captain Ken Owens has been ruled out of the World Cup due to a back injury in the latest setback to Australia’s pool rivals.
Wales, along with Fiji and Portugal, make up the Wallabies pool group in France.
Owens was been released from the training squad along with Scarlets team-mate Josh Macleod, who has a shoulder problem. It’s another major setback for embattled coach Warren Gatland.
Since the preliminary squad was announced in May, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb have all announced their retirements.
“Ken didn’t train at all with us [in recent weeks], his back has not recovered,” head coach Warren Gatland said.
“He has not been able to do any of the training. It is the same injury but not as severe as before so he may need an operation on that.
“He wanted to reiterate he has not retired from rugby and he is hoping potentially he could be available later if we pick up injuries in the tournament.”
Owens captained Wales in the Six Nations this year.
Gatland says it is possible the 36-year-old could feature in the latter stages of the tournament, if there was an injury at hooker, but he will not be named in the 33-player squad at the end of August.
“Co-captaincy is a possibility. We did that with Ellis Jenkins and Cory Hill in 2018 and it worked well. It is something I have put out there potentially as an option, it is not guaranteed we will do that,”” said Gatland.
“We will put a leadership group together and we will tell the players. You look at the squad and I don’t think there are any guaranteed starting positions and players will get opportunities in the squad.
“It is looking at the team and picking the right person as captain. It is the support they are going to get or is it potentially co-captains that can share that role and responsibility?”
Dan Biggar, who captained Wales in the 2022 Six Nations and the following summer tour to South Africa, and second-row forward Adam Beard are among the leading candidates to lead the team.
Australian Former State of Origin player Les Kiss, who has been mentioned as a possible successor to Brad Thorn at the Queensland Reds, has been linked to the head coach role in Edinburgh.
Kiss was coach at London Irish until the club’s recent financial collapse, and is a potential replacement for Mike Blair according to RugbyPass.
Blair is was taking a new job in Japan, as assistant to Dave Rennie at Kobe Steelers.
Kiss took London irish top fifth in the Gallagher Premiership last season, just missing out on the play-offs. They qualified for the Champions Cup before their descent into administration forced them to withdraw.
Kiss, 58, played and coached rugby league before switching to union in 2001. He has worked as an assistant with the Springboks, NSW Waratahs and Ireland, helping the latter win the Grand Slam in 2009 under Declan Kidney and further Six Nations titles under Joe Schmidt.
The Reds are yet to move on a replacement for Thorn.
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.