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Pause to ponder: Sione Lauaki - Source: Photosport -
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All Blacks rugby forward Sione Lauaki was on
Wednesday charged with assault over an incident in a Hamilton
bar last week.
Lauaki, 28, is due to appear in Hamilton District Court on March
23.
His Super 14 franchise, the Chiefs, gave the blockbusting loose
forward their backing, but coach Ian Foster has left him out of the
side to play the Crusaders in Hamilton on Friday night.
"I've spoken to Sione and we've both decided that he won't be
involved in this game in light of the week that he has had," he
said.
"We will fully support him over the next few weeks and what he has
to go through."
Foster believed the rest of his squad had been able to avoid being
distracted by the issue.
"It's something that you never want to happen, but it's a reality
of life that things get chucked at you as a team and we've just got
to learn how to deal with it," he said.
"I think the team has dealt with it really well. It's been a good
process we've gone through."
The charge against Lauaki arose from an alleged incident at the
Coyotes Bar and Restaurant in the early hours of last Friday.
Lauaki has had a chequered start to this year's Super 14.
He was Foster's surprise choice as stand-in skipper while regular
captain Mils Muliaina was given the first three matches off.
However, he missed the Chiefs' season-opening victory over the
Sharks in Durban after a cut on an arm led to an abscess.
He played against the Lions the following weekend, but was hit by a
two-match suspension for a dangerous tackle in the 72-65 win in
Johannesburg.
The ban ended last weekend, making him eligible for selection
against the Crusaders.
He has played 17 Tests, but his last was in 2008 and he admitted
last year that he believed his All Blacks days were over.
