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RWC effectively over for Motu Matu'u after ban handed down for high tackle

Samoa's Motu Matu'u is sent to the sin bin on Tuesday in Kumagaya (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Motu Matu’u World Cup is effectively over after he was banned until October 26. The Samoa hooker appeared before an independent judicial committee having been cited for an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous high tackle) in the World Cup match against Russia on Tuesday.

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The committee, chaired by Wang Shao Ing (Singapore lawyer and former international player) with former international players John Langford (Australia) and Olly Kohn (Wales), heard the case, considering all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from the player and his representative.

The committee, by a majority, deemed that the incident was an act of foul play and warranted a red card for the following reasons:

  • it was a reckless high tackle which made contact with the head of the opposition ball carrier;
  • a high degree of danger was reflected in the approach to the contact and follow-through;
  • the factors against mitigation in the high tackle sanction framework were present, in that the tackler and the ball carrier were in open space and the tackler had a clear line of sight of the ball carrier;
  • the majority of the committee were not satisfied that the change in height of the ball carrier was unreasonable and/or outside the estimation of the player. The player’s execution of the tackle resulted in a loss of control of the terms of contact with the opposition ball carrier.

The committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point, which was introduced in 2017 to mitigate the risk of head injuries, carrying a minimum six-match suspension.

(Continue reading below…)

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Having acknowledged Matu’u’s disciplinary record, good character and conduct at the hearing, the committee reduced the six-match entry point by three matches, resulting in a sanction of three matches. The sanction applies to the next three matches Matu’u is scheduled to play in.

Matu’u is not scheduled to play for Samoa against Scotland on September 30 due to undergoing the graduated return to play protocol. He will therefore miss Samoa’s final two pool matches and the quarter-final should Samoa progress, or his next scheduled match with his club London Irish on October 26. 

The suspension will therefore end at midnight after the World Cup 2019 quarter-finals if Samoa qualifies or at midnight on October 26 if Samoa do not qualify for the quarter-finals, after which he is free to resume playing.

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C
CO 25 minutes ago
Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

Some Bok supporters might argue in vain but Vaa’i is the model that superseded the previous model known as the Pieter-Steph du Toit.


Hansen's pack got beaten to a pulp in 2019 by the English pack and it would've made zero difference who started at six.


Believing that Scooter starting at six was because they lost that semifinal ignores the reality that Hansen had overstayed his welcome as head coach and having effectively lost the Lions tour and become besotted with SBW should've been fired in 2017 and replaced with any one of Rennie, Schmidt or Joseph.


Both Nonu and Kaino should've been in that 2019 squad. Proven world cup final starters.


Frizzell is never getting the six jersey, he had a shocker of a world cup final and is yesterday's man dining out on one good performance against the Bok B team at Mt Smart. Frizzell is a myth.


The Allblacks current pack needs to bulk up due to it having a lot of small back rowers and no, Finau is not good enough to start, he's not direct enough or punishing enough.


The Allblacks need to stop anointing Sititi as the greatest thing since sliced bread, he's done very little this year, Christian is looking very solid at eight and seven is Saveas best spot to keep Christian starting.


Rassie is using loosies at hooker and so should the Allblacks. Playing Vaa’i at six isn't three locks, it's ensuring size to counter the other tier one packs and Vaa'i is fantastic at six.


Kirifi is okay but again hasn't done much and is too little, Lakai and Kirifi shouldn't be in the squad together.

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