Murray Kinsella reports from Sydney
WALLABIES FULLBACK ISRAEL Folau has been issued a citing commissioner’s warning for a challenge on Peter O’Mahony in the air during Ireland’s 20-16 win in Sydney yesterday.
Given that Folau was also yellow-carded in the game over a separate incident, he will now face a disciplinary hearing.
Folau was sin-binned by referee Pascal Gaüzère for playing O’Mahony in the air under a 31st-minute restart, but that is not the incident that the Wallabies star has been served a citing commissioner’s warning for.
The incident that has led to the warning took place in the ninth minute.
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Citing commissioner Michael O’Leary’s view was that O’Mahony “toppled to the ground” after Folau “placed his left hand on O’Mahony as he started to descend.”
The warning comes under Law 9.11 – ‘Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others’ – and Law 9.17 – ‘A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground’.
O’Leary commented that the ninth-minute incident was “strikingly similar” to the one for which Folau was sin-binned.
That incident came in the 31st minute.
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The combination of a yellow card and a citing commissioner’s warning mean Folau will face a disciplinary hearing.
Citing commissioners are “entitled to issue a Citing Commissioner Warning to a Player who has in his opinion committed an act(s) of Foul Play which falls just short of warranting that the Player concerned be Ordered Off in circumstances where the act of Foul Play was not subject to a Temporary Suspension or Ordering Off,” according to World Rugby Regulation 17.
The same regulation says that “If a Player has received two Citing Commissioner Warnings or a combination of a Citing Commissioner Warning and a Temporary Suspension during a Match he shall be treated for disciplinary purposes as if he had been Ordered Off.”
Folau’s disciplinary hearing will be convened under Judicial Officer Shao Wang [Singapore] at a time to be confirmed.
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He’s not as disappointed as some on relation to how far off they are? They are miles off. No offence to Munster but they are an average,though very gutsy and committed side,and they have hammers Leinster twice in a row now. I do agree that they haven’t had any continuity with combinations,especially from 9-13,and hopefully when the likes of OBrien, Healy, Moore, Teo, McFadden etc come back then there will be a big improvement.
I must take the opportunity to praise Matt O’Connor for the huge improvement in Guinness Pro12 teams. Ever since he arrived at Leinster, every other team has greatly improved. Teams, that two years ago were almost brushed aside by Leinster, have now reached the heights that Leinster once inhabited alone.
Treviso have improved, Munster have improved, Edinburgh have improved, Scarlets have improved, Dragons have improved, Zebra have improved, Connacht (brilliant tonight, by the way) have improved..
In fact, they have all improved so much that Leinster has great difficulty taking on any of them.
By extension, Wasps and Harlequins have shown just how brilliant they are too due to you Matt.
I can hardly wait to see how much Castres get better when they arrive at the RDS soon. They will build statues in your image all over the town.
Matt, you have done European rugby a great service. They have all reached and surpassed Leinster this season thanks to your input at Leinster and everywhere else.
Thank you Matt and Happy New year!.
(and also to Mr Caputo, the news paper seller. Your influence on all other teams has been exceptional)