Source: Radio New Zealand
Moana Pasifika halfback Augustine Pulu tackles Blues opposite Sam Nock. Alan Lee / www.photosport.nz
Moana Pasifika halfback Augustine Pulu has been suspended for three weeks for a dangerous tackle during his side’s 43-7 defeat to the Blues last weekend.
It’s a blow for Moana who have three tough games on the horizon. They host the Crusaders on Friday before matches against the Highlanders and Chiefs.
The high shot on Blues opposite Sam Nock occurred in the 17th minute of the Super Rugby match at Eden Park with former All Black Pulu receiving a yellow card which was later upgraded to red.
After the game Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga lamented Pulu’s sending off and said it made it harder for his side.
“That did harm us. It obviously harmed Sam Nock, which isn’t ideal. He’s a good, young man,” Umaga said.
“To play half an hour with 14 players… but the funny thing is, when we did have 14 men, we seemed to have a lot more urgency and showed what we can do.
“When we were 15, it wasn’t the same.”
The judiciary determined that the mid-range entry point of six weeks/matches was appropriate for the incident in which Pulu made direct contact with a swinging arm to an opponent’s head, with no mitigation.
Due to Pulu’s guilty plea and other factors such as his prior disciplinary record and remorse, the judiciary applied the full 50 per cent reduction in sanction, reducing the ban to three weeks.
The ban will be reduced to two weeks if Pulu takes part in World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme.
If he doesn’t attend the coaching programme he will miss Moana Pasifika’s upcoming matches against the Crusaders (21 March), Highlanders (27 March) and Chiefs (11 April).
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
