RACING 92 WILL be without their Argentinian fullback Juan Imhoff for the final two rounds of the Champions Cup pool stages after he was slapped with a five-week suspension this afternoon.
The 29-year-old was sent off in the 64th minute of Saturday’s all-French clash between Racing and Castres for headbutting scrum-half Rory Kockott, and today received a ban from an ECPR disciplinary committee.
Imhoff will now be unavailable for Racing’s final Pool 4 games against Munster and Leicester Tigers in January.
The panel upheld Wayne Barnes’ decision to show Imhoff a red card and found that the offence was at a mid-range point of World Rugby’s sanctions which warranted a 10-week suspension.
However, there were a number of mitigating factors — including the player’s guilty plea and previously clear disciplinary record — and it was decided to reduce the sanction in half.
Imhoff will be free to play again on 22 January, the day after the pool stages are due to conclude. He does, however, have the right to appeal the decision.
After the weekend’s win over Castres, Racing go into round five second in the pool and four points behind Munster, who they welcome to Paris on the second weekend of January.
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Would be giving Cave and Fitz a run out against Romania with Henshaw off the bench just to ease him back in.
Payne is a class act. His defence is rock solid. He’s also (sort of) playing out of position. I’d like to see him at 15 versus Romania.
Spot me Bren !
he, along with players like heaslip are the ultimate moneyball kinda players. particular key attributes that they posses slot seemlessly into what is required for the team. all sense of selfishness and ego is given up. you don’t see their efforts in the game but if you look at their stats they contribute hugely to the overall cause. he and henshaw were placed together initially because of how solid they are defensively, which arguably was bod and darcy’s greatest contribution in later years, and the thing that most needed reproducing.
Just read D’Arcy’s article in the IT. http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/gordon-d-arcy-surviving-at-centre-not-easy-just-ask-jesse-kriel-1.2362159
“I also think Payne has become the second most important player in Ireland’s backline, possibly even the team. A fullback by nature, he has become a reliable Test centre and that’s down to fundamental skills”
Not impressed by Payne so far. Maybe he does alot of unseen stuff defensively (though not much evidence against Eng recently) but for me he doesn’t offer enough from attacking perspective. Dont understand why he almost seems untouchable as 1st choice 13. I’d prefer any of Madigan, Fitz or Earls starting with Henshaw.
Well he scored a shi’ite load of points for me on Fantasy Rugger and must have been penalised for the kick/turnover .. Second centre is a seriously difficult position to play and he’s doing fine , you may not appreciate the hard work , tackles etc that he’s putting in but I betcha Joe and Les Kiss do ..
97 meters (second to Rob Kearney)
14 tackles, none missed (second to Ian Henderson)
Ex All Black Justin Marshall describes Irish centre partnership as “lack lustre” and sayd they “do not challenge”. Put it this way… Name one of the contenders to win the tournament that would swap their centre partnerships for ours. Not one. Henshaw has time but Payne will never be world class whatever stats say.
Cameras in the gym ????? Wtf