Experienced All Black set to miss most of the Rugby Championship
Veteran All Black Anton Lienert-Brown is set to miss at least the opening two games of the Rugby Championship after being suspended for three weeks.
The centre was cited for head-to-head contact with Crusaders wing Dallas McLeod during the Chiefs’ 25-20 loss to their rivals in the Super Rugby Pacific final.
Referee Ben O’Keeffe sent Lienert-Brown to the sin bin with his yellow card under review. The colour of the card never changed but after the game, the Chief was cited for his actions.
🟨 Yellow for Anton Lienert-Brown. Should it have been red? #CHIvCRU pic.twitter.com/L9oPxrN3V1
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) June 24, 2023
“Reckless” foul play
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee, chaired by Michael Heron alongside Stefan Terblanche and John Langford, made the ruling.
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the FPRC upheld the citing,” read a statement.
“With respect to sanction, the FPRC held the act of foul play was reckless, with direct head-to-head contact made, high force and no significant mitigating factors present.
“The FPRC found the incident was dangerous and, after considering the relevant factors, decided the foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks.
“Taking into account mitigating factors, including the player’s exemplary record and guilty plea, the FPRC reduced the suspension by three weeks.”
Implications on the Rugby Championship
The suspension is three weeks which is up and including July 29, the same date as the All Blacks‘ final Rugby Championship fixture against the Wallabies.
Lienert-Brown will be able to apply for the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme, which will result in the reduction of the suspension by one week.
What is certain is that the star centre will definitely miss their first two Rugby Championship matches against Argentina in Mendoza and the massive Test against the Springboks at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
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