Canesfan says...

Even I think this is a shockingly short Ban and I'm a die hard AB's fan. Any contact to the head should be 4 weeks minimum!

Posted 05:59 15th November 2012

mew2000 says...

well melkdave you have your wish ... irb will review the decision.... Lets be clear one rule for everyone else one rule for the Abs? Is that your view? Considering some of the thugs I have seen going on in the NH you are one too talk! What the difference between elbows and boots on the head? I wonder if one of the NH teams does a similar thing and see how you coment then?

Posted 05:21 15th November 2012

bigb6969 says...

The IRB guidelines say 2-9, so he should have got 2 weeks. But otherwise he ban was fair. It is obviously it was not deliberate, it was in the open and put no force at all, the Scottish player was on the ground did not even realise he was stomped ! When you think back to McMillan's triple eye gouge on McCaw that got no ban whatsoever, and Greyling superman flying elbow to the face that copped a one match (2 week) ban, Thompson's his banning is positively too harsh ! Unfair !

Posted 04:02 15th November 2012

ferdie says...

Who cares.

Though it will fill this forum with a few pages of rants no doubt.

I'd prefer to read about match previews, reviews, player performances, however a topic like this will descend yet again into an anti-NZ, world conspiracy pile of garbage.

Posted 00:18 15th November 2012

rugby_phile says...

Cards on the table here. I am an AB supporter, the "tap" on the head wasn't malicious with intent to injure, there was never any danger and Thomson is not a dirty player.

BUT, it was stupid, sends out the wrong message, and most importantly INTENTIONAL. And the head is a NO-GO area!!

The ban is an absolute joke, completely inadequate and ridiculous. I hope there were no NZelanders on the judiciary, otherwise I hang my head in shame and apologise to everybody. I think a ban to take him out of the tour would have been sufficient plus a few weeks added ala Simmons (over the Christmas break) to enforce the message.

Judiciary, you limped wristed twits, you have missed a great opportunity to send out a very powerful message.

Posted 23:11 14th November 2012

ben7 says...

If he was south african or french he'd get at least 4 weeks. Pathetic

Posted 21:58 14th November 2012

Trader2 says...

Oh this will start something and I see the new IRB CEO has already hinted (via Twitter no less) at a review. I would suggest he would be better served in overhauling the whole judicial system than to review one case. Mind you he is an Aussie so who knows. I thought 2 weeks would have been appropriate given it was stupid but not dangerous and obviously Strockosh statement that he did not feel a thing swayed the day. Stephen Jones and the other British hacks are having a field day, (via Twitter) of course. Actually Twitter and Stephen Jones in the same sentence makes a lot of sense. I am sure all the NH posters have already been on here, can't wait to read them, this will make even the most balanced of them a tad upset. To all who called for 6-8 weeks, it was never going to happen so move on boys.

Thomson was lucky but at least, for now, he should be able to play one more game for New Zealand before someone, most probably in the NH will offer him a big cheque and then you can all go and watch him every week in some dreay rain soaked venue.

Posted 21:42 14th November 2012

jontheref says...

For once I am in agreement with milkdave, no consistency with the bans within any union, let alone inetrnationally!

Posted 21:01 14th November 2012

Andy1000 says...

Judicial officer was French so no SH conspiracy. However the ban is not long enough. It continues the trend of pathetic bans for foul play that we've seen recently.

Posted 20:07 14th November 2012

kiwilad says...

There is no justice in this, sure the incident was innocous, but a foot to the head is against all things rugby, as as such should have incurred a far sterner penalty.

Posted 19:35 14th November 2012