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Blues hooker James Parsons has denied a SANZAAR statement that claimed he received an apology from Owen Franks following the incident that led to the latter’s two-week suspension.
Franks pleaded guilty to striking Parsons in the head during the Crusaders’ 32-24 win over the Blues last Saturday.
All Blacks prop Franks’ four-week ban was halved due to his “good record over an extensive playing history” and because he “expressed remorse and apology to the other player”, a SANZAAR statement read.
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Two-time All Black Parsons has told New Zealand media that no such apology was received.
“I haven’t spoken to him since the incident. Obviously, we shook hands as teams do after the game but I didn’t speak to him,” he told Radio Sport. “I haven’t received an apology – unless he’s gone via email form or letter form to Blues management.”
Franks escaped sanction at the time of the incident, and was later cited after the citing commissioner deemed Franks’ offence to meet the red card threshold for foul play.
30-year-old Franks will be available in time for the All Blacks’ first test against France on June 9.
Parsons said he would have rather seen Franks punished during the game.
“Two weeks, four weeks, whatever it is it doesn’t change the result for us. I would have liked to have seen something done on the night,” Parsons said.
The Crusaders will be without both Franks and fellow All Blacks prop Joe Moody for their conference-topping clash with the Hurricanes on Friday. Moody is also serving a two-week suspension after elbowing Waratah Kurtley Beale in the throat the weekend prior.
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