Simmons cops eight

[jono]

Read an article that Simmons has copped an eight week Ban for his tackle on the weekend.

Can someone update this when the article comes out a bit more?

[jono]

Oh and Thompson got 1 week... Total bullshit
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[normie]

Wallaby Rob Simmons suspended for eight weeks on lifting tackle charge
by: Iain Payten in London From: News Limited Network November 15, 2012

Source: AP
SCOTT Higginbotham could to be rushed to Europe after Wallabies lock Rob Simmons was hit with an extraordinary eight-week ban for a dangerous tackle on French flanker Yannick Nyanga.

Simmons fronted an IRB judiciary hearing overnight and despite Wallaby confidence he could beat the charge, the big Queenslander was found guilty and slapped with a ban for "eight active weeks", which will expire on February 24.

The ban leaves the Wallabies with only two fit specialist locks for this weekend's Test with England, with Kane Douglas also injured.

The Wallabies said they were considering whether to appeal, but it would be assumed they have a strong case the penalty is excessive, particularly compared to the one
match ban given to All Blacks forward Adam Thomson yesterday for rucking a Scottish player's head.

Independent IRB judicial officer Robert Williams, of Wales, cranked up Simmons' penalty at one point to as high as 14 weeks but took six weeks off for his previously clean

"I haven't a chance to read the decision yet and we will have to do that before we decide if that's the end of the matter," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.

"There is the potential to appeal. We will to consider his decision, get the transcript of it. It is not something we would do lightly."

Even with an appeal, Simmons is not any chance to play again on tour so Higginbotham - whose two-match suspension for headbutting Richie McCaw expires after this weekend - is likely to be on a plane in the next day or two.

"Given the way things are, we will probably look to a replacement in the short run," Deans said.

"We have maintained contact with Scotty obviously. He continues to train, from the outset he was aware it wasn't the end of his tour prospects. He was hoping to have
some involvement in the trip. He is the bloke who would have been here."

Dave Dennis will cover lock for the England Test but if Douglas isn't fit to play against Italy, Deans said it was possible a lock could join Higginbotham on the plane.

"We have got what we need for this game, Dave will cover that area. The key thing is to monitor Kane's progress," Deans said.

"If the medical staff believe it is marginal he would be available to us next week, we would probably have to bring in two replacements."
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1226517052469

[oxleymoron]

The precedent has been set - put a decent hit on the opposition and make a small error = 8 weeks.

Or you could perform a rigorous scalp massage in a ruck and cop a week.

There will be some more scalp massages this weekend but the problem is that Thomson's penalty will be a slap on the wrist compared to the next person who does it - because the IRB will make it their focus to stamp it from the game if it becomes too frequent.
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[jono]

Is there footage of the tackle? I've been on site since the weekend and haven't had time to see the game
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[SNOB]

Is this consistent with fines handed out by the IRB in the NH? If so, so be it.
We have all seen some glaring inconsistency here. Digby got 8 weeks for a tip tackle I think but Someone else only got 4.
As long as they are consistent fine.

[blueandblack]

...

Or you could perform a rigorous scalp massage in a ruck and cop a week.
...

Don't forget his punch to the head as well.

[blueandblack]

Is there footage of the tackle? I've been on site since the weekend and haven't had time to see the game
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[CunnamullaFulla]

The problem with rugby is that it is run by private school ninnies

In the mungoes it would be lauded as a good tackle

In a game that is becomming disturbingly over officiated by pedants of the old school tie and "don't hurt little Jonnie" brigade, a good hit rubs you out for half a season

.......and it's like playing roulette

No consistency

[sandgroperrugby]

The tackle is bad and a suspension warranted, the tackle on AAC early in the match was only half a second off being as bad but that was a good tackle?!? AAC was picked up and taken past the horizontal by definition should not the French player have been cited?? Photo below of what I am referring to.

[Alison]

Does the review panel always consist of the same people, or is it different each time? If different, there needs to be some sort of moderation process to ensure consistency in decision making.

Also, is/are the decision makers from a different union to the defendant so as to rule out bias or undue pressure?

[GIGS20]

Well no, it's not as simple as that. The citation and subsequent ban is dependent upon what yo u do once he's past the horizontal. If you are seen to do everything you can to lower him gently to the ground it won't be viewed badly and we've all seen ones that have not even drawn a penalty. Simmons was probably not helped by the tackle also being late.

If Thompson hadn't been given 1 week for rucking the head, I would have been ok with a hefty suspension, but the glaring inconsistency is that ten years ago, that tackle would have been applauded and that ruck would have been a send off. The irb have proven that they're scared of the AllBlacks, which means the cheating bastards will remain the unquestioned best team in the universe until they get a level playing field

[jargan83]

8 weeks for that while some grub Kiwi gets 1 week for a scalp massage?

The irb have proven that they're scared of the AllBlacks, which means the cheating bastards will remain the unquestioned best team in the universe until they get a level playing field

There was me thinking I was the only one who needed a tin foil hat

[zed]

8 weeks for that while some grub Kiwi gets 1 week for a scalp massage?

The tip/spear tackles can result in serious injury, scalp massages don't really. It's a physical game, yes, you go out and try and smash your opposite man, but you don't go out to seriously injure your opposite man. Not saying Simmons had that intention, but his tackle was stupid and reckless. To his credit it does look as though he releases him rather than driving him into the ground, so perhaps 8 weeks is harsh, but yeah at least 4 weeks I think.

[jargan83]

The tip/spear tackles can result in serious injury, scalp massages don't really. It's a physical game, yes, you go out and try and smash your opposite man, but you don't go out to seriously injure your opposite man. Not saying Simmons had that intention, but his tackle was stupid and reckless. To his credit it does look as though he releases him rather than driving him into the ground, so perhaps 8 weeks is harsh, but yeah at least 4 weeks I think.

So you agree its not worth 8 weeks?