FOR THE THIRD Lions Tour in succession, a citing review board has studied video evidence and produced a judgement that contravenes with rugby logic.
Tana Umaga and Kevan Mealamu were cleared of wrongdoing for the spear tackle on Brian O’Driscoll in 2005 and Schalk Burger was found guilty of gouging the eyes of Luke Fitzgerald, four years later, yet given a lenient eight-week ban.
This time around and James Horwill was Lions opponent caught on camera as he trod on the head of Lions lock Alun Wyn Jones. The Wallaby captain was cited but cleared by officials declared after they ‘could not find that he was acting recklessly’. The IRB have stepped in, however, and Horwill will face another review panel on Monday.
Former Lions and Ireland hooker Shane Byrne believes Horwill will be sanctioned at the hearing and will miss the Third Test on the series in Sydney next week. Byrne was on the 2005 tour to New Zealand when his captain, O’Driscoll, was driven into the turf and suffered a dislocated shoulder.
He told TheScore.ie, “Horwill could be in a lot of trouble. What he did, it just looked terrible. It was far from an accident. I’ll put it this way, the fact that the IRB have called for another review does not bode well for him.
They can’t have another Lions tour where the opposing captain is getting in trouble but getting away with it too. The IRB will want to draw a line through this.”
Former Wallaby fullback Greg Martin, speaking on Fox Sports in Australia, was deep in conspiracy theory mode today when he claimed Lions pressure had forced the IRB to act on the stamping furore.
Here is the incident in question:
YouTube credit: charliepoz
Horwill, speaking after Australia’s captain’s run in Melbourne, said, “I had a fair hearing the first time and I expect it to be no different next time. It was a complete accident, which unfortunately happens in rugby. There was no intent and no malice in anything.”
*You can now follow Shane Byrne on Twitter @shanebyrneoffic
Maith fear, Shane. Díreach ag an airgead arís!!!
Are we not getting bit overheated, the Lions did not seek the appeal against the initial verdict, the IRB did, both BOD and POC served their time and have nothing to do with this particular incident. Clouding the issue with spurious references do not help.
Leave him play! Pursuing it further is just childish
Agreed. All this is from the pressure and nonstop moaning from gatland, woodward and other ex-lions associates. Yet still nothing about Farrells stamp which required an ear to be partially reattached? ah yes because the wallabies have got over it and refused to spit the dummy.
Supposedly they reviewed the scene in question from 9 different angles and found him innocent. Unlike Burger or Umaga or even our beloved BOD against italy earlier this year where they all quite clearly knew what they were doing, no video i have seen indicated he knew Wyn-Jones was there or it was done on purpose. Horwill has a pretty clean record (possibly blemish free) even when on the receiving end of some foul play! A black eye Tyson would be proud of.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ_0aRfkasw
Overruling the findings of a sighting commissioner could to open a big can of worms. Regardless of whether he remains free to play or gets banned they should bring back rucking which will take the pressure off ref’s to police the breakdown and speed up the game by stopping players from labouring on the deck or wrong side of the ruck.
And before anyone writes something stupid like ”those dirty Aussies” the IRB organising the rehearing is run… by an Australian.
I read earlier in the week that Horwill has served a ban previously for stamping.
Taken from the Super Rugby website:
“Horwill has a history of stamping or trampling on players and was given an off field yellow card for trampling on Western Force front rower Pek Cowan in Super Rugby last month – coincedentally also in the third minute of the match.”
It’s been looked at, move on and win the bloody series! it’s like playground whining
I was only replying to the “Horwill’s blemish free record bit”
Couldn’t give a toss whether he was banned or not, but im sure if it was your head sticking out the back of a ruck you’d give a fcuk.
I guarantee a w jones is not whining looking for him to be banned! Jesus, just get on with it! It strikes sour grapes from irb
You are an absolute inbred. Haven’t heard gatland ‘moaning’ about it once let alone all the time.
the lions management are getting it pursued further have no doubt about that :)
Do you still believe in the tooth fairy lizard? perhaps even santa?
You must possess the naivety of a toddler to not believe the Lions pushed the IRB for this. Why else would they make such a landmark decision, undermining a citing commissioner and potentially leaving themselves open to challenges for every ruling made from here on?
Gatland went on a trip down memory lane about having scars form rucks. Their displeasure has been all carefully and intelligently orchestrated through the media and im sure words have been said behind closed door about Horwill. Add in the incessant moaning about playing weaker opposition (Brumbies anyone?), referring performances, players being ‘targeted’ and enemy ‘spies’ at training grounds, its been nothing but a ungracious whinge from Gatland and co all tour
Disagree all you want but keep the name calling for youtube, it makes you look like a complete clown
I was wrong about the ban though.
If hes found guilty then neither oconnell nor driscoll should be any where near the tour for much greater offences