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Wed 30 Sep 2015 | 12:16
Nemani Nadolo banned for dangerous David Pocock clean out

14
Comments

Fiji's giant winger Nemani Nadolo has been banned for a week for an incident that occurred during their 28-13 loss to Australia in their second Pool A match. London flyer Asaeli Tikoirotuma has since been called up for the match against Wales in Cardiff this Thursday.

Much talked about Nadolo, particularly after scoring in the opening game against England, was adjudged to have committed an act of foul play. It was reported that it was a tip-tackle, but as you will see below, a dangerous clean out at the ruck is probably more accurate.

"The judicial officer [Christopher Quinlan QC] deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of two weeks," said an official statement.

"He did not consider there to be any aggravating factors. However, taking into account mitigating factors including his excellent disciplinary record, the judicial officer reduced the suspension to a period of one week."

As you can see below, the Crusaders winger went in to clean out breakdown menace David Pocock, but appeared to do so in a dangerous manner, leaving Pocock a little uncomfortable.

Pocock has said the following of the incident however: "I remember feeling like my leg got a bit stuck and my knee was in an awkward position, so I kind of pushed off backwards and kind of jumped to free my leg and then sort of flipped backwards and one hand was on the ground.

"I would say that I have definitely contributed to that, but yeah, got up and got back into it. I think me flicking backwards and pushing backwards definitely added momentum to it."

While we can only see one angle below, up to four angles were supplied for the process.

Nadolo has scored Fiji's only try of the tournament so far, and contributed 16 of their 24 points. He will be replaced for the Wales match by Tikoirotuma, himself a lethal winger but is obviously not quite as imposing as the 130kg giant Nadolo.

After hearing of Nadolo's ban, Welsh flyhalf Rhys Priestland reportedly commented that "There's a few happy boys down in the team room."

Read the full disciplinary hearing, and view the Wales and Fiji teams below the video

Thursday 1 Oct, Kickoff: 16:45 local, Millennium Stadium

If the video doesn't work for you, watch the incident on the next page, here

Wales Team: 15 Matthew Morgan, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan  Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tom Francis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Gethin Jenkins Substitutes: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Aaron Jarvis, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 James Hook

Fiji Team: 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Lepani Botia, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Maafu Substitutes 6 Viliame Veikoso, 17 Peni Ravia, 18 Leeroy Atalifo, 19 Nemia Soqeta, 20 Malakai Ravulo, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Joshua Matavesi, 23 Kini Murimurivalu

Posted By: Grant Constable

14 Comments

  • drg
    6:22 PM 02/10/2015

    You're not supposed to collapse a scrum or knock the ball on, but it still happens...

  • 4:13 AM 02/10/2015

    Except your not supposed to be kicking near anyone's head

  • stroudos
    1:27 PM 01/10/2015

    Mate, even on that slow-mo video, you'd have to be pretty one-eyed to say that's a deliberate kick to the head.

  • eddie-g
    1:02 PM 01/10/2015

    Slowed down, and from that angle, it looks bad. In real time, and from front on (or behind), Wood just misses the ball.

    At worst it was a clumsy hack from a forward - in fact the JOs decided that's what it was and he got a retroactive yellow; but seeing how these kangaroo courts operate with the Nadolo, not about to trust any rulings at this point.

  • 11:25 AM 01/10/2015

    No, Nadolo was very unlucky. Reading the citation, it was actually the fact that Pocock ended up being dropped on his head, and the suspicion that it wasn't entirely an accident (the bit about Nadolo twisting his body to throw DP aside).
    Wood however was cynical, the ball had rolled away, as can be clearly seen here: https://vine.co/v/exweQzegeOW

  • stroudos
    9:04 AM 01/10/2015

    I think arguably the most striking thing from that judicial officer's report is the bit from the citing commissioner:
    "#11 cleaned out Aus #7 the latched onto Aus #8..."

    So, that's your winger cleaning out two of the most effective breakdown dogs in world rugby in one single ruck!

    Take note Jonny May, this is what we'll be expecting from you on Saturday!!

  • facepalm
    9:55 PM 30/09/2015

    Thanks for clearing that up, RD. I wonder why World Rugby is now taking such a strong stance to contact with the neck, exclusively with rucks and nowhere else in play. What is it with rucks and nowhere else on the pitch that makes this such an extreme issue. You could very well argue that the link I posted is more dangerous than the clear-out he got banned for.

  • rugbydump
    6:35 PM 30/09/2015

    Pocock's comments were actually taken from the hearing. He originally emailed them, then repeated what he said on a call. It's all there in the document. It's only nine pages of legal speak with lots of numbers and subclauses - give it a read.

  • rugbydump
    6:18 PM 30/09/2015

    Yes, and no its not that one. You can read the report in the link above and it clearly states the 31st minute of the second half, ie: 71 minutes. It's unfortunate that people are sharing the wrong thing!

  • facepalm
    5:51 PM 30/09/2015

    Interesting that the video I saw doing the rounds for Nadolo's ban was a totally different incident.

    https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/videos_h264high/393D974EC71260739835397029888_SW_WEBM_1443557926537c038883b5a.mp4?versionId=OnmrZzUFdLi0H.JwwXwc474KHtbyfbob

    Has anyone taken time to read the disciplinary report? Was this ban the result of two incidents?

  • eddie-g
    5:37 PM 30/09/2015

    Would you feel better about Nadolo's ban if Tom Wood had copped one too?

    They were both lousy citations imo, Wood's "blatant kick to the head" was an even more blatant fair attempt to kick the ball. He didn't deserve a ban, nor did Nadolo.

  • eddie-g
    5:34 PM 30/09/2015

    Not much to add here - I think we all know the rules say the lifter is responsible for bringing the liftee safely back to earth, but no idea Nadolo what supposed to do differently here apart from not attempt a clear out.

    Very disappointing that he's now missing a big WC game as a result.

  • 3:28 PM 30/09/2015

    Thanks for posting this RD. It was a mystery to me as I'd not seen anything. That looks very harsh to me. How did Nadolo get a ban for this and Tom Wood not get one for a blatant kick to the head?

  • stroudos
    2:25 PM 30/09/2015

    Not happy about this, and only partially because of it being a massive let-off for Wales. I'm not happy about it because it's a massive miscarriage of justice.

    Fair play to Pocock for offering up that explanation. Seems spot on really. I think his foot was a trapped a bit by Goneva on the ground, so his flip was deliberate by him to try and free himself - very sensible too I might add.

    I wonder if the judicial officer was aware of Pocock's comments? Because if he did and still thought it necessary to ban Nadolo, he's a complete clown.

    Here is another view/angle, although still only one and no replay it seems:
    https://youtu.be/atngObg001E?t=1h18m52s

    Actually I think it may be the same angle anyway, but it helps seeing a bit of the action before and after to give it context.

    Quite clear to me that Pocock's doing his trademark limpet impression. Nadolo clears him completely legally - through the gate, fully bound etc. The flipping action by Pocock may have made it look a bit dramatic, but there's absolutely no foul play involved.

    I think what this incident does demonstrate is you have to be an absolute monster to have any chance of cleaning Pocock out of a ruck...


    PS - Tikoirituma's not too shabby a replacement to have up your sleeve is he!

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