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.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
So whose watching the game on behalf of the TMO, so stuff like forward passes etc are not missed, while the TMO is further assessing the sanction for the player in the sin bin. It's a tough gig. The FPRC could have gone out for a 3 course lunch and drinks after in the time they had to make a routine conclusion when they had before them a citing officers report and a player pleading guilty. They have the easy part of the equation.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
"They have all the tools and technology" Gee this is so tiresome this sort of argument. What blooming tools and technology has he got . He's got a slow motion video replay from various angles. So what. They were doing slow mo replays on video players when Adam was a cowboy. What's changed. When they introduce a tool like they have in cricket and tennis give me a call.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
"i believe this review process has made the refs take an easy way out!!!" Noooo come on. If ALB had punched McLeod in the face or kicked him in the groin O'Keeffe would have had no hesitation in giving a RC. This system I believe will in time be introduced throughout the rugby world then you will see that your European Rugger referees will take the same path as O'Keeffe did in this match and rightly so. This has to be probably the best idea that has been introduced into rugby in years. "there is no substantial dip by attacker" .... well there you are....you already have a problem...substantial??? What's substantial. I'm not saying it should not have been a RC. But there is without doubt some dip by McLeod. I could easily point that out to you if we were sitting in front of a TV screen.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
The average punter wont go to a WR Website. What would be far better in my opinion is if following an incident such as the Chiefs disallowed try from the final that Super Rugby make a short Instagram/Twitter post explaining accurately why the try was disallowed. You will have far more chance of educating the casual rugby follower using this method than expecting them to go and look at the WR website. I'm the only person that I know that has ever read the rugby laws book or who looks up the laws on the WR Website.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Who said closing your eyes was mitigation.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Yeah the referee could have given him a RC however because of the new process the referee can simply expedite it and delegate the task if you like. Game moves on without undue delay. What does it matter if the player gets a RC immediately or in 5 or so minutes time. The FPRC has the easy job. They have a player (who has pled guilty) referred to them by the match Citing Officer. All they have to do is decide on the scale of the sanction which for incidents like this are always mid entry. So by the time it gets to them it's very easy to suggest what should have happened.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Yeah I think they have got this one right more or less. The only query I have is does the TMO continue assessing the incident whilst he is expected to continue overseeing the match. Do we know? Is he on his own? Not quite sure how he can do both.
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
Yes. The laws do not say what you said they did. They do not say the Ref is always right. That was your misunderstanding or misrepresentation. As I said that does not make the decision right, it just makes it the final determination.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
You are. And never said they were the same sport. Just that the refs follow the same systems. Learn the rules/laws then go officiate. Pretty simple Im surprised you dont understand that. Well maybe not. Not once have I ever said there is justification around abusing refs. More of your BS. Do you have some rugby points or is it all about calling me names? Its real funny that Ive not called anyone anything bad yet people like you believe I have to agree with your belief or you are entitled to call me a B*&%^*D. Grow up. Stop making stuff up like its real.
piru
Roar Rookie
Who's bagging another sport? You are the one who brought up soccer reffing as some sort of justification for why you should be allowed to abuse referees (and yes, I have done both, and no they are not even close to the same).
piru
Roar Rookie
Law 6: Match Officials The referee is the sole judge of fact and law during a match
piru
Roar Rookie
There us a big difference between kids and professionals. Yes there is. That's why it's important to stamp out official abuse at all levels. What lesson do you think the kids who see their heroes abusing refs on TV are learning? You don't think they are taking that to their own games and refs?
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
Which one?
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
It seems you don’t understand the difference between an object and a process or concept.
MO
Roar Rookie
Havetopush back on the abuse though
2ndRowFwd
Roar Rookie
Well said Geoff and BOK as well. I rarely post here, but am a very keen reader of the content. I am also a community level referee. I referee everything from under 12s up to subbies. Regularly - as in every weekend, up to 4 or 5 games plus anything I run the line for and this year, I'm getting close to having had enough. And don't think I'm alone. In addition to being a referee (for best part of 15 years) I am also an administrator on one of the larger greater Sydney referee associations and to say that our numbers have been trending down for some time is perhaps making light of the situation. Put simply - referees are sick of it. Those who sing out (during and after games especially) with appalling abuse at professional referees need to consider that that nastiness and arrogance (ie why don't you try refereeing yourself perhaps?) flows into everything at all levels - most especially it flows into the kids that both watch and play the game. Refereeing is a mug's game because you pretty much put yourself out there to be criticised - no matter how well you do, someone is going to be having a dig and disagreeing. Part of that goes with the territory, but too much now is crossing the line and it's gotten well past clubland into schools as well. GPS schools in the Sydney region run in the vicinity of 30-35 games a weekend (less than the past - just as an indicator of the ailing health of the sport - partially impacted by this very issue) and every one of those games needs a qualified referee - if for no other reason than safety. When referees like me need to referee 3 games followed by running the line on another 2, simply because there aren't enough to cover those games, surely people can see that not only is there a problem with recruiting AND retaining referees - but embedded into that is why there is a problem. New referees fear abuse and existing refs are done with the increasing sideline commentary - which is followed by the on field commentary. To loop back to the professional ranks like BOK - maybe think about where they come from - yes, it's the community game. Without them, you literally don't have a sport. Yes - they need to be held to high standards, yes they make mistakes (go figure) and a bit of ribbing is fine - but the putrid diatribe that is lobbed at these guys and girls is beyond the pale and everyone responsible needs to check themselves. For the record - I thought it was a straight red. I also think there are some issues with the process of back and forthing between on field officials and off field officials (and the fact that their conversations are public) - but the people watching and the broadcasters have competing priorities which makes the job of the whistleblower practically impossible. PS Many wouldn't be aware of the mental impact that these people bear as well which should also be another reason to check yourselves. I know, for example, that two of the best known professional referees (one now retired - not Welsh :)) have actually experienced anxiety attacks and locked themselves for hours in change rooms after games where they've had to make tough decisions. In my view, every one of those lobbing abuse at those two men need to take a good, long, and hard look at themselves. PPS All associations in Australia have recently been put on notice by Andy M that sanctions for referee abuse, both on and off the field have been increased in response to what is becoming an epidemic. Get the picture?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
This is because they do t want the right decision, they want the right decision for their team. Quite different.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
It’s like explaining to a spoilt child who doesn’t understand object permanence. We know there is a review process. We know it is not public. We know you are not in the official circle who get to see it. And yet, you think because you didn’t see it, it can’t have happened? I just… I just I don’t get it?
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Danny, maybe we need to remind the spectators to show respect for the kicker on the screen as they do in the UK- Twickenham. Maybe the penny will drop as it did over there. Yeah, I am creative so may have a good imagination.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
You made a fair comment, my imagination just got away from me a bit.