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Four-week ban for Chiefs back Fa'auli

Super Rugby high-fliers Chiefs will be without Johnny Fa’auli throughout April after the back received a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle in Friday’s victory over Bulls.

Fa’auli was cited by SANZAAR – the body that operates Super Rugby – for an apparent shoulder charge on Jan Serfontein.

On Sunday, SANZAAR confirmed Fa’auli had entered a guilty plea to its Foul Play Review Committee and would now be unavailable up to and including April 29.

Foul Play Review Committee chairman Nigel Hampton QC stated: “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 10.4(e) Dangerous tackling of an Opponent.”

“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player’s early guilty plea, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to four weeks.”

Fa’auli will therefore miss Chiefs’ upcoming matches against away matches against Stormers, Cheetahs and Western Force, in addition to a home clash with Sunwolves.

Chiefs, losing semi-finalists in 2016, have won their opening five matches this term.

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Nickers 35 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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