Scott Barrett has been cleared to play in the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup opener despite his red card in New Zealand’s tournament warm-up clash against South Africa.
The All Blacks suffered their worst-ever defeat in the match, a 35-7 loss at Twickenham in London, to leave them with plenty of concerns heading into the World Cup.
The availability of Barrett – a starting lock and a key cog in Ian Foster’s machine – won’t be one of them after an independent judiciary cleared him of serious foul play.
The 29-year-old was shown two yellow cards in the loss, the first for a minor infringement at the breakdown with the team on a warning for repeated fouls.
The second was far nastier, with Barrett barrelling into Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx at a ruck without intent to play the ball.
Barrett was disconsolate as he was sent off, leaving his team a man down for the entire second half against South Africa.
However, the judiciary convened by World Rugby deemed that punishment was sufficient, given the low grade offence for his first yellow card.
The news is a huge relief for New Zealand, who have their toughest pool fixture first-up: a clash with hosts France on the tournament’s opening night.
Foster named just four locks in his squad, including Brodie Retallick who is not expected to be fit until mid-tournament.
The All Blacks complete their group with matches against easier opponents Namibia, Italy and Uruguay.
Suspensions have blighted England’s World Cup preparation, who will miss captain Owen Farrell for their first two games against Argentina and Japan, and Billy Vunipola for the opener.
Leachy
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: mate i`d cheapshot him from behind like he does to others.
piru
Roar Rookie
Funny that Funbus with his limitless memory for All Black transgressions has already forgotten about Farrell's efforts two weeks ago.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I don't see how Barrett didn't get a red card for the no arms tackle. It started illegal and was always illegal. The original "technical" yellow isn't really relevant for mine.
ScottD
Roar Guru
What a complete load of drivel. You need to get that chip off your shoulder mate.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
He’s wrong anyway. Farrell has been sent off numerous times, and he has perhaps the most notorious reputation for getting away with stuff. Even the UK forums are fed up with his rubbish. It’s not even worth disputing it.
Kane
Roar Guru
But Owen has been to tackle school. He should know better… I understand your statement of the head being sacrosanct but I don’t believe Barrett made direct contact to the head so it puts it in a different league to Owens tackle. Much of the “hysteria” came from ex English players and coaches, and their own media. That again doesn’t support your narrative. Then the fact that was the first time that WR has appealed a decision of a non ANZAC player again doesn’t fit your narrative. The fact that it’s taken 15 years longer for WR to appeal an Englishman’s judicial decision compared to that of a kiwi or Australia again falls outside of your narrative of NZ running world rugby.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Karma is a beech, I just got England in the company rugby sweepstake :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :crying:
WEST
Roar Guru
Haha he’s noisy all the time, hard to differentiate. Very squeaky voice
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
When it comes to illegal play, e.g. tip tackle, our charging with no arms or tackling without wrapping the intent is surely obvious. The intent was not to make a legal tackle or clean out - do you need anything more to decide? If you want to get rid of illegal dangerous play, then you cannot wait for the outcome (someone paralysed or mentally disabled) before you can act.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
LOL :laughing: Who are these globally influential NZ media Rugby scribes? Mark Reason? LMAO :laughing: I guess you must hate the influential Fijian, Tongan, and Samoan media too.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I have a similar expectation for the Red Rose Funbus. Wing it through to the semi finals and from there on a couple of games where things come together and who knows what might happen. The ABs have put 50 on teams that a few months later bundle them out in the quaters so theres always hope to hang onto. Much the same as the Wallabies who are just starting their new Jones era of hope and handwringing I always have a niggly worry that today will be that day they click and give us a flogging. I am looking forward to watching where this WC takes us far more than the last few. There are many more subplots, pitfalls and bananna skins this time. And I have the gut feeling a smokey chance from nowhere will take the chocolates this time around. But wouldn’t it be fun if Scotland Fiji or even the Eddie Jones survivors come through eh? Good luck to you and the Borthwick boys. Maybe see you in the finals.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
“He has a far worse history in international rugby than Farrell does.” No. He doesn’t.
Thom
Roar Rookie
Better check with HRH Andrew.
Fracktobunt
Roar Rookie
“ We’ll see how opposition fans like it when the ABs start waving arms and yelling at the ref about everything that could be questionable.” I think you might find that Aaron Smith is a world champion at doing that already.
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
You need a hysteriaectomy, FB.
Chucked
Roar Rookie
Not 90% of the game 75% of the Game All Blacks 1 man down- the Boks and ABs had one man out for 10 mins each Massive disadvantage
Kane
Roar Guru
And Barrett has a far better record in all other forms of the game. Weirdly they’re all treated as equal come judiciary.
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
Out of interest - would it not be obvious that a team yellow doesn't get upgraded to a red if there is another weak yellow. Would that be an easy deal with? Sending players off is a shitty thing to do like this. In saying that SA still smashed us - nothing was stopping them in this game.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
“Barrett intent was pretty clear…” That’s the point. You think it’s clear, I think it’s clear. Everyone else will think it’s clear. But I’d bet my house we all have a different opinion on what it clearly was. And intent is impossible to prove, so none of us are going to budge where we are. So while I am a big advocate for intent, it’s so problematic to implement I do hope they never try and actually implement it.
CheetahBok
Roar Rookie
Do you even know how to throw a punch? If that was a punch in any way, then sure ban Vermeulen. What a pansy outlook! Besides if you ban Vermeulen it is fine, we still have Wiese and Roos and even JL du Preez we can call on. I think Barrett’s YC was sufficient punishment for a reckless charge. Think your claims of a punch are just frivolous and if not plain dumb