Suspensions, injury a worry for All Blacks

[laura]

By MARC HINTON - Stuff.co.nz
01/11/2009

The All Blacks had some worries as they boarded their flight to London today, with the suspensions of Tony Woodcock and Sitiveni Sivivatu and a calf injury to Dan Carter putting a serious spanner in the works ahead of the Welsh test.

With both loosehead prop Woodcock and wing Sivivatu definitely out for next Saturday's match at the Millennium Stadium, after receiving one-game suspensions following Saturday's 32-19 victory over the Wallabies, and a cloud over Carter after he picked up a knock to his calf, the three All Blacks coaches had plenty to think about on the long flight to Heathrow.

The sight of Carter looking in visible discomfort today as the All Blacks checked out of their hotel to head to the airport would not have helped matters. Especially given the consummate display the superstar pivot had put on night as he worked back towards his imperious best.

Carter hauled in 22 points on a faultless night with the boot, was a key figure in the All Blacks' second-half fightback with his strong territorial game and ran at the line more than he has since his return to the test scene.

Both Woodcock and Sivivatu were cited for incidents in the test, which meant a late night for assistant coach, and former policeman, Steve Hansen, who accompanied his errant pair to a hearing that went on into the early hours of the Tokyo morning.

Sivivatu was pinged for his dangerous mid-air tackle on Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper for which he was sinbinned, and Woodcock was found to have struck George Smith with his elbow in the final minute of the contest.

Judicial officer Peter Hobbs, of Wellington, found that both actions warranted a one-match suspension, which means the All Blacks have at least two changes to make this week...........

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/a...cock-suspended

[sandgroperrugby]

Thought Woodcock deserved longer for his gutless pathetic hits on Smith after they had already won the game, especially since Smith could not protect himself and couldn’t see it coming! Wonder what his face looks like today after a few reprisal/reprimand uppercuts from Smith.

Sivivatu was just stupid nothing more to be said!

[Burgs]

Suspensions are funny things when you think about it.
They serve no form of "retribution" to the agrieved party and benefit a third party.
Perhaps they should be for the next time the two teams involved play at Test level?

[TommyM]

Suspensions are funny things when you think about it.
They serve no form of "retribution" to the agrieved party and benefit a third party.
Perhaps they should be for the next time the two teams involved play at Test level?

Like most punititive measures these days, I suspect they're meant to be primarily about prevention, not revenge.

[GIGS20]

Suspensions are funny things when you think about it.
They serve no form of "retribution" to the agrieved party and benefit a third party.
Perhaps they should be for the next time the two teams involved play at Test level?

I suppose the retribution aspect would be handled by the yellow and red cards handed out during the match......assuming the ref is not wearing black!

[mudskipper]

Suspensions are funny things when you think about it.
They serve no form of "retribution" to the agrieved party and benefit a third party.
Perhaps they should be for the next time the two teams involved play at Test level?

Very good point... South African Referee’s display too much man worship towards the All Blacks... IRB needs to step in and address this issue…

Amongst a long list of infringes there were many which didn’t get pinged on the weekend… At one point So’oialo stood up at the back off the ruck, offside reached in from the Wallabies scrum half side a began to pull a Wallabies player out of the ruck disengaging him… The match was refereed as an exhibition match only.

[The EnForcer]

Very good point... South African Referee’s display too much man worship towards the All Blacks... IRB needs to step in and address this issue…

Amongst a long list of infringes there were many which didn’t get pinged on the weekend… At one point So’oialo stood up at the back off the ruck, offside reached in from the Wallabies scrum half side a began to pull a Wallabies player out of the ruck disengaging him… The match was refereed as an exhibition match only.

We lost to a better side on the day....no excuses!