The IRB promised a revision of its disciplinary system after All Black flank Adam Thomson's one-week ban for stamping provoked a storm of protest.
Thomson is now set to miss New Zealand's Test against Italy in Rome on Saturday but will be available to play against Wales and England in the remaining international fixtures of the world champions' European tour.
The back-row forward, having been cited for "stamping or trampling" on the head of Scotland's Alasdair Strokosch during New Zealand's 51-22 victory at Murrayfield on Sunday was given his suspension after an IRB disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday.
Former England hooker Brian Moore described Thomson's suspension as "ludicrously lenient".
And the punishment was in marked contrast to the eight-week ban handed out to Australia lock Rob Simmons by a separate IRB hearing in London earlier on Wednesday for a "tip tackle" on France flanker Yannick Nyanga during the Wallabies' 33-6 defeat in Paris on Saturday.
Thomson, unlike Simmons whom the match officials at the Stade de France could not identify as the guilty party, did receive a yellow card at Murrayfield although Scotland coach Andy Robinson was not alone in thinking the forward had been fortunate to avoid being sent off.
IRB chief executive Brett Gosper, who took up his post in June, responded to Moore's comments and similar complaints on Twitter by saying: "The IRB will review this case as it is a match under our jurisdiction.
"If we decide to take action we will make it public," he added.
Samoa centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu slammed the Thomson verdict and compared it with the three-week ban he received from England's Rugby Football Union last year for tweets about Owen Farrell.
"I got 3 weeks for sarcastic tweets. So had I just rucked Farrells head I would have got only a week? Its just so comical these days," Fuimaono-Sapolu said.
Simmons, a replacement forward in Paris, received a ban of eight 'active' weeks' that took into account he was not scheduled to play immediately after the end of a Wallaby tour that sees them play England at Twickenham this weekend before Tests with Italy and Wales.
His suspension runs until February 24 and leaves Australia with just two fit locks heading into Saturday's Cook Cup clash at Twickenham.
Both Thomson and Simmons have a right of appeal.
Comments
tac18 says...
The disciplinary process is obviously inconsistent and Thomson should have been given a longer sentence. But to claim that certain players don't deserve better protection from the citing commissioner (regardless of whether it's McCaw, Strokosch, or even Quade Cooper) is moronic and hypocritical. You can't expect a tougher sentence for Thomson and still claim that e.g. Dylan Hartley's gutless elbow to McCaw (2010) was ok. There needs to be a bit of balance and impartiality to it from officials and passionate rugby fans alike. All players deserve the same level of protection from thuggery.
Unfortunately the rhetorical 'McCaw's a cheat' argument comes up whenever he gets a cheap shot. To date no-one's put up a detailed, reasoned argument across that accurately describes how he cheats (that I've seen), especially how what he does is so different to what any other top openside does. I challenge anyone that does so, to apply the same critique to all other great 7's and honestly tell me they aren't doing the same. He may push the laws, but they all do, that's their job. And if he's blatantly and consistently cheating, with all the rhetoric and bleating the referees would be aware of it and shut it down. This isn't the case so either a) the refs are blind (possible I admit) or b) he does what all 7's do, just a bit better.
Posted 21:43 17th November 2012
7ton says...
7redcards
Yeah ,yeah and let he who has never sinned cast the first stone.
Posted 22:27 16th November 2012
spam says...
what are you supposed to get for an attempted arm break?
http://prem0.hiboox.com/images/4612/diapo2659339a8fc8397ccbd2a2deb2bf7f21.gif
Posted 14:38 16th November 2012
Trinats2 says...
jmanngod
Are you talking about Simmions or Higginbotham ?
Couldn't Tell from your whinging !!!
Posted 14:25 16th November 2012
Ramage says...
Chance they sure are playing different games one is an open style of runiing the ball with great passing and speed. The other is a lumbering slow game where they maul and srum and kick and play for penalties and bore the pants of those who enjoy an open fast and skilful game.
Posted 14:02 16th November 2012
7redcards says...
Thomson - Looked to me like it was not intentional, but who knows, the point is its a contact sport, the scots lad looked alright so get on with it.
McCaw - is a cheat and he gets what he deserves, period. Now the fact that he is a superb cheat and brilliant leader and is tough like ordinary mortals cannot appreciate does not change the fact that he is a cheat.
Posted 13:48 16th November 2012
chancer says...
Claiming that NZ players e.g. (St McCaw) desrve more protection by citing is a bit thin, perhaps memories are not good enough to remember blatant acts of thuggery carried out by NZ and ignored by citing.
What is needed is an improvement in consistancy in application of all rugby laws, at the moment it seems SH and NH are playing a different game
Posted 08:07 16th November 2012
StunTheMullet says...
Where were all these mouthpieces when Greyling got his 2 weeks for his flying elbow to the head? Or Higgenarse got his 2 weeks for kneeing and headbutting?
Didn't hear a peep from them either when Gougerie was going at it in the RWC final or Boofhead Hartley dropped his elbow on Sir Richies head or Boofhead Powell head highed Sir Richie.
But hey, then different standards apply to the All Blacks.
Posted 23:32 15th November 2012
Trader2 says...
Good at least something has come out of this fuss, and when they do review it make sure it is simple and clear so as not to confuse some of the poor souls on PR.
Posted 22:48 15th November 2012
malaprade says...
Don't tell me AB players don't get treated differently....
Posted 22:21 15th November 2012
malaprade says...
Don't tell me AB players don't get treated differently....
Posted 22:15 15th November 2012
jmanngod says...
absolute storm in a tea cup and typical of the kind of NH whingeing we see every year. If anyone can honestly look at that incident and see malicious intent or actual damage (or even a actual stomp) then I am amazed at their stupidity. Richie McCaw has been punched, kneed, forearmed in the head by all and sundry ...where were your cry's of support when his attackers (all intentional and leading to actual pain and damage) were all given slaps on the wrist.
Posted 18:31 15th November 2012
Tony says...
Perhaps whilst they are on the job they might review Hartley's elbow into McCaw's head whilst he lay prone, Powell's elbow/coat hanger of McCaw's head when he was carrying the ball, Cooper's knee into McCaw's head whilst he was on the ground, Kevin McLaughlin's and Rougerie's eye gouging of McCaw and various other assaults on him which have been ignored by citing comms in recent times. Or perhaps Higginbottom's recent knee in the head and punch on McCaw in which he got two weeks (one meaningless game).
Posted 17:22 15th November 2012