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Disciplinary hearing vindicates latest Peyper red card decision

(Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

South African referee Jaco Peyper has had his latest Dublin red card decision vindicated at a disciplinary hearing. It was March when the red card brandished by Peyper to England’s Freddie Steward during the Guinness Six Nations finale against Ireland in Dublin was rescinded at a follow-up disciplinary.

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However, there was no similar let-off for Michael Ala’alatoa, the Leinster sub who was sent off in the dying moments of last Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup final at the same ground.

In the immediate aftermath of the sending-off, beaten Leinster coach Leo Cullen said: “I’ll have to look back on it in more detail. You have got to just trust the referee’s call on the day.”

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Meanwhile, winning La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara reckoned: “It’s very unfortunate for Mike Ala’alatoa. You have got to come in at that pace to shift bodies. Unfortunately, he got his angle wrong and it’s a head collision and it’s a red card. Desperately disappointing for him because he is a good guy and he plays with aggression, but he is very, very fair.”

The Samoan prop will now pay a three-game Rugby World Cup preparation price, a sanction that can be reduced to two if he successfully completes the World Rugby tackle school.

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A statement read: “The Leinster replacement prop, Michael Ala’alatoa, has been suspended for three weeks following an independent disciplinary hearing arising from the Heineken Champions Cup final on May 20. Ala’alatoa was sent off by the referee, Jaco Peyper (South Africa), in the 78th minute of the match at the Aviva Stadium for charging into a ruck in a dangerous manner and for making contact with the head area of the Stade Rochelais replacement prop, Georges-Henri Colombe, in contravention of law 9.20(a).

“An independent disciplinary committee comprising Roddy Dunlop (Scotland, chair), Leon Lloyd (England) and Frank Hadden (Scotland) studied video imagery of the incident and heard evidence from Ala’alatoa who accepted the red card decision.

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“The committee also heard submissions from the player’s legal representative, Derek Hegarty, from Leinster head of rugby operations Guy Easterby, as well as from EPCR disciplinary officer Liam McTiernan.

“The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that Ala’alatoa had charged into the ruck in contravention of law 9.20(a) and had also made contact with the head of Colombe, in a dangerous manner.

“It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point. As the player has a clear disciplinary record and due to his acceptance of the red card, it was decided to grant him the full 50 per cent mitigation and the committee reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing a three-week suspension.

“Ala’alatoa is suspended for Samoa’s fixtures against Japan on July 22, against Fiji on July 29 and against Tonga on August 5. He is free to play on Monday, August 7. However, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby coaching intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, July 31.”

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2 Comments
R
Richard 529 days ago

Mid range!!! He was stretchered off. No arms in the tackle, to the head with a shoulder at speed. If we're trying to reduce injuries and long term brain damage- basically save the game from a litigated demise- clearouts like that need stamping down on hard. Really surprised at how lightly he got off. Whether he's a fair player or no is irrelevant.

M
Mark 529 days ago

There needs to be an end to reduction of bans for good behaviour etc
That way players may be more aware of possible actions in tackles, rucks or open play and the penalties awaiting them

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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