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Red-carded Williams and Bath kitman Middleton learn their fate

(Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

Bath duo Mike Williams and kit manager Steve Middleton have both been banned following separate incidents during last Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership defeat at home to Wasps. Williams, the soon-to-be 30-year-old forward, was red-carded in the 47th minute by referee Ian Tempest for dangerous play at a ruck on Jimmy Gopperth while Middleton was ordered from the field of play for comments made to the referee. 

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Williams contested the charge but was given a four-week suspension by the independent disciplinary panel comprising Jeremy Summers (chair) with Mitch Read and Tony Wheat. The player is free to play again on December 7.

In the written judgment it was reported that in the evidence provided by Bath player Williams that “he was clear his bicep had contacted with Gopperth’s shoulder because he had noticed a ‘corker’ on his bicep that had resulted from the incident. 

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“He did not feel that he had come into contact with Gopperth’s head or neck at any time and he had not grasped Gopperth in a headlock. He had effected a very dominant clear out and Gopperth had gone straight backwards. At no point had he acted illegally and he had attempted to wrap.

“In response to questions from the panel, the player indicated that he had changed his technique to address the new laws relating to head contact. It was put to him that that the action he had deployed to clear out Gopperth was high risk and highly dangerous. In response, he stated that he had practised the technique at low speed.

“The player had given clear evidence that he had not made contact with Gopperth’s head and should be viewed as a credible witness. There was nothing in the footage that allowed the panel to discount his evidence. The rearview angle, in particular, supported the player’s case that contact was bicep to shoulder. There was insufficient evidence to safely conclude that there had been contact with Gopperth’s head.”

However, the panel went on to make the following findings which included: “The player’s right bicep initially struck the left-hand side of Gopperth’s face, and the player’s position that the contact had been with the shoulder was rejected.

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“The player’s right forearm had then hooked up and made contact with the neck and/or chin of Gopperth and the player’s defence that he had hooked across Gopperth’s chest was similarly rejected. The contact with the head involved a high degree of force and a high degree of danger.

“After careful consideration, the panel was satisfied that the player had been attempting to lawfully clear out Gopperth, as demonstrated by his actions. He had, however, committed to a high-risk technique which he had then executed imperfectly.”

With no mitigation applied to the four-week entry point, Williams will now miss this weekend’s Bath Premiership match versus Leicester, the Premiership Cup game against Gloucester and the Premiership game versus Exeter. However, he can become available for the fourth game of his sanction, the December 4 league game versus Northampton, if he successfully completes a tackle school intervention. Tackle school was something recently undertaken by Sale’s Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

Regarding kit manager Middleton, he accepted the charge and was given a one-match suspension by the same independent disciplinary panel. This prevents him from attending next weekend’s game in any capacity other than a spectator. Middleton also needs to deliver a presentation to the non-playing members of staff at Bath on the need to uphold standards and the core values of the game by December 2. 

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“The kit manager accepted the charge of misconduct brought against him and apologised for his behaviour. The panel considered that a period of suspension was required, consistent with other recent decisions and that a strong message needed to be issued to the game. There is a growing problem with the conduct of non-playing personnel and disciplinary panels will not hesitate in taking strong action to combat this.”

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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
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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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