Cleared: Toby Flood
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Leicester fly-half Toby Flood can face the Ospreys in Sunday's Heineken Cup clash in Swansea after being cleared of making a spear tackle.
Tigers ten Flood had been charged for an alleged dangerous tip tackle, contrary to law 10.4(j) on Worcester Warriors player Andy Goode in the Aviva Premiership match on January 4.
"Whilst we found that the elements of a dangerous tackle were made out, after very careful analysis we could not be satisfied, to that standard required, that the dynamics of the incident had not been caused, or contributed to, significantly by the involvement of other players from both teams," said chair Jeremy Summers.
In the other hearing taking place, London Welsh hooker Neil Briggs was given a three-week suspension for punching Quins wing Sam Smith.
Briggs is sidelined from January 8 to January 29 and free to play rugby again on January 30.
He appeared before a panel of Summers (chair), Dr Julian Morris and Philip Evans after being charged for Punching or Striking, contrary to law 10.4(a) in their Aviva Premiership match.
Comments
melkdave says...
Was expecting a 1 week ban ,although Floods intial tackle wasnt a spear one,as others have pointed out .It was the fact Goode was driven back into his own player which unbalanced him ,and turn it into a spear tackle.Perhaps commensense rather than blind adherance to the rules ,is starting to come into these procedings.
Posted 15:58 10th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Dr Death, It happened to Johnno ONCE! Okay maybe twice. (ish) ;)
Anyway given on how John O'Neill used to behave at the ARU I think you have to be a bit streetwise in this sport.
Posted 13:58 09th January 2013
TVaddict says...
Although I'm glad for Leicester that he's not banned I feel he's very luck with this one. Yes it wasn't entirely his fault but ultimate he is the one that created that dangerous position in the first place. I'd of given him a couple of weeks myself.
Posted 12:47 09th January 2013
ramm83 says...
Anyone that can pick fat Goode up in the first place deserves a medal not a ban...
Posted 11:26 09th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
I expected him to go. There's no doubt that this decision has given Leicester a life line in the euro cup. Whether they can take it and win at the Liberty Stadium is still a tough call. They won't win playing like they did against Gloucester and Worcester this Christmas. It's fair to say they were in deep trouble without Flood. Ospreys forwards are as streetwise as they come and George Ford's kicking accuracy isn't good enough to beat good, cynical professionals.
Talking about cynicism, Ospreys V Leicester is a bit of a money spinner, so was the decision not to ban Flood based on financial gain??? Have to say it's a lot more bankable now that Leicester have a glimmer of a chance...
The Tip tackle law interpretation is a total mess. Allain Rolland got the interpretation correct in the World Cup, then the media waded in with a completely english speaking biased point of view (if a french player had done it then nobody would have given a hoot) and they've screwed up the entire thing. The Referees and IRB are so weak. Fancy letting yourselves be rail roaded into turning a blind eye to dangerous play. You have to START being consistant at some time or other. But the law enforcers (what a joke) are too busy watering down the rules and trying to please the mob. If, for hypothetical example, Scarlett Johannsson got totally hammered and drove her car through a shop window and all her fans got upset because she wouldn't be able to make the next Avengers movie, would you expect the police to be swayed by vocal opinion and let her off? And if they did, how would that shape your perception of the police? Shouting you're flawed point of view from the pages of a newpaper doesn't mean you're right. The "rugby police" (referees and disciplinary bodies) have no credability. They aren't supposed to be liked. They can be respected, but only if they do their job.
Posted 10:09 09th January 2013
lawynd says...
I'd be willing to bet most of you haven't seen the tackle.
Flood makes the initial tackle, what turns it into a spear is the arrival of Rob Hawkins tackling Goode around the shoulders and the Worcester 4 lifting Goode's hips. In fact, it's the Worcester player that lets him go, resulting in the momentum driving Goode into the floor.
The only outcome that would have punished Flood would also have required the punishment of the other two 'assist' tacklers too...would you chaps all be happy with that?
Posted 10:03 09th January 2013
DrDeath says...
Classic RFU! Never ban an established international before a big England game, cf Martin Johnson several times!
Posted 09:25 09th January 2013
jontheref says...
Agree or not, shows how inconsistent these guys are.
Stinks of protectionism, well said.
Posted 08:37 09th January 2013
Chancer says...
One rule for some???, explanation does not match what I saw.
Posted 07:58 09th January 2013
PontySurrey says...
The 6N is imminent so this should be no surprise to anyone.
Posted 07:04 09th January 2013
Davbat2026 says...
NHsaints - I disagree. It was a bad tackle and should have been punished with a ban. He drove Goode diagonally down into the ground with no care for his welfare.
Posted 05:00 09th January 2013
jappers1983 says...
So heres the law: http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2040903.html
Flood drove the player into the ground so his head/shoulders hit the groud first. Hawkins contributed but Goode was clearly beyond the horizontal when Hawkins gets involved; his involvement was insignificant.
This stinks of RFU protectionism of it's elite squad players. Expected, but still a ludicrous decision.
Posted 00:08 09th January 2013
tellitlikeitis says...
Disgraceful, unashamed corruption. Had this happened in the Rabo to Dan Biggar Richard Cockerill would have been rage-dumping Waldrom-shaped loads all over Sky Sports news. Jokeshop
Posted 23:56 08th January 2013
Eejbm says...
Looked similar to Digby's to me...
Posted 23:25 08th January 2013
LeedsNick says...
How can he avoid a ban? Drove Goode into the ground head first! Shocking decision!
Posted 22:57 08th January 2013
NHsaints says...
Exactly the result I wanted to see and expected, the judicial hearing got this one bang on.
Posted 21:48 08th January 2013