Only hours after one of its judicial officers handed down a
one-week ban for trampling, the new boss of the IRB has announced
All Black Adam Thomson's suspension will be reviewed.
Thomson's light penalty, a week less than the IRB standard minimum
recommendation, immediately attracted heavy criticism from
Britain's leading rugby writers.
Thomson received the one-week suspension for trampling on the head
of Scottish opposite Alasdair Strokosh at Murrayfield last
Monday.
The IRB-appointed judicial officer's decision, as it stands, means
Thomson will remain with the All Blacks for the remainder of their
end-of-year tour and be spared the ignominy of being sent home
after just one match.
However, IRB chief executive Brett Gosper, an Australian who
recently succeeded Mike Miller in the top job, today revealed via
social media microblogging site Twitter that the Thomson decision
could be over-turned.
"The IRB will review this case as it is a match under our
jurisdiction," tweeted Gosper. "If we decide to take action we will
make it public."
Predictably British rugby writers are up in arms over the leniency
applied to Thomson, with several voicing their displeasure on their
Twitter accounts.
"One week ban for stomping on head. Ha! Makes game look a laughing
stock," said The Telegraph's Mick Cleary.
"Will be fascinating to see if IRB do step in to rule on Thomson
ban. V tricky precedent to set if they do. But wholly right also,"
added the Telegraph scribe.
Prominent All Black critic Stephen Jones of The Sunday Times also
voiced his displeasure on Twitter.
"Latest from rugby's clean up campaign .. A measured, cynical head
stamp is a one week ban. And there's one law for All Blacks.
Disgrace."
If the decision by France's Jean-Noel Couraud stands, it will be a
huge relief for the 30-year-old who was in danger of ending his
Test career in infamous fashion as he ponders a move offshore next
year.
Thomson parted ways with his team-mates in Rome today and flew to
Heathrow where he faced the IRB's judiciary.
The IRB's recommended range of punishment for the offence of
"stamping or trampling" on an opponent's head was two to nine
weeks, so Thomson has clearly discovered some mitigating
circumstances.
He was represented by the New Zealand Rugby Union's Europe-based
lawyer Owen Eastwood and accompanied by All Blacks assistant coach
Ian Foster.
Eastwood was the same legal man who represented hooker Keven
Mealamu in Glasgow in 2010 when he managed to get a four-week
suspension for head butting reduced to two.
The party were flying back to Rome today and unavailable for
immediate comment.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will be relieved by the decision
after earlier suggesting it would be regretful if Thomson received
a long suspension.
"If he does go overseas and he does get a lengthy penalty that's a
hell of a way to finish your All Black career when you've actually
been a pretty tidy All Black," Hansen said.
Thomson has played 29 Tests and is not considered dirty player, but
appeared to have lost his composure when he put his sprigs on
Strokosh's headgear in the 44th minute of the All Blacks 51-22 win
in Edinburgh.
Though it was a reasonably gentle contact, Thomson was correctly
sinbinned by French referee Jerome Garces on the advice of his
touch judge.
Meanwhile, there was also relief today for utility back Ben Smith
who has been cleared by the medical staff to be available for the
final two matches of the tour against Wales and England.
Smith suffered a broken cheek bone during the win against Scotland
and will miss Sunday's (NZT) test against Italy along with Tamati
Ellison (toe ligaments).
Ellison remains an ongoing concern with coach Steve Hansen waiting
until the end of the weekend to make a decision on whether he will
call in a replacement
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