Call for consistency after Gregan ban
09 May 2006Â
By GREG GROWDEN
Sydney Morning Herald
Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie has criticised the SANZAR judicial system for being too inconsistent after Wallabies captain George Gregan was yesterday suspended for one week for a dangerous spear tackle.
McKenzie believed the Gregan suspension was too lenient when compared with the four-match ban his back-rower Rocky Elsom received for punching in a Super 14 match in South Africa earlier this season.
The short length of the Gregan suspension also surprised numerous Waratahs players when they were told at training of the SANZAR decision, following a hearing in Canberra yesterday. When informed of the one-week ban, several NSW players rolled their eyes in disbelief.
"I've given up trying to work out the machinations of the judiciary," McKenzie said. "It does set an interesting precedent for the second time we get a spear tackle of that calibre. All I'm looking for is consistency in the whole system.
"You have a situation where Rocky misses a third of the Super 14 season and jeopardises his selection opportunities. And he threw half a dozen punches, of which it is dubious if any of them connected. Then we couldn't get any change from the appeal process.
"As well, Matt Dunning gets a week's suspension for throwing two punches, while there have been incidents this year where players are getting knocked out, and no one is cited."
Last week, the Waratahs were disgruntled over the incorrect citing of Highlanders hooker Anton Oliver, after an incident where NSW prop Benn Robinson received head cuts in a ruck during the Dunedin match. Replays showed that All Blacks prop Carl Hayman was near the incident.
When asked what SANZAR had to do to improve the system, McKenzie said there had been a lot of talk on the subject, but nothing of substance had yet eventuated.
"We've been looking at it for the last two years, and I don't think it is getting any better," he said.
After the Canberra hearing, the judiciary said in a statement that a week's suspension was appropriate after taking into account Gregan's "exemplary and unblemished disciplinary record".
ACT, who need one bonus point against the Crusaders in the final round to ensure a semi-final berth, are in a precarious position as they will be without Gregan and Test five-eighth Stephen Larkham, while Wallabies centre Matt Giteau is also unlikely to play with a knee injury.
If ACT are thrashed by the Crusaders, and the Sharks enjoy a large win over the Force, the Brumbies will miss out on the finals, with the South African province taking their spot.
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