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A warning, but no further sanction for New Zealand pair after Grosso clash

The citing commissioner decided that Ofa Tu’ungafasi’s shoulder-leading tackle was “just short of” a red card.

NEW ZEALAND FORWARDS Sam Cane and Ofa Tu’ungafasi have escaped further sanction after being cited for a tackle which left France’s Remy Grosso with facial fractures and Cane himself sent for a HIA.

The trio collided in the 59th minute of the All Blacks’ win over France on Saturday morning, with a penalty awarded against Cane by referee Luke Pearce.

South African citing commissioner Freek Burger agreed with that action, so no extra sanction will be placed on the openside.

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Prop Tu’ungafasi meanwhile was adjudged to have committed an offence “just short of” a red card sanction under Law 9.13. The mitigating factors, according to Burger, included: ‘Grosso’s body position lowering as he went into contact’.

The 26-year-old was therefore hit with a Citing Commissioner Warning, acknowledging that his actions deserved at least a yellow card, but not quite a straight red owing to the mitigating factors.

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The absence of suspensions for tackles which clearly impacted the heads of both opponent and team-mate comes despite officiating directives updated last year to define a red card-worthy tackle as one which makes direct contact, with force, to the head.

A yellow card is applicable when there is indirect contact (i.e: slipped up) with force, or direct contact without force.

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