A
A SANZAR Judicial Hearing held in Brisbane today has dismissed a charge of foul play against Australian flyhalf Quade Cooper.
Cooper had been cited for an alleged contravention of foul play Law 10.4 (a): striking an opponent with the knee. The incident, involving New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, occurred during the second half of the Tri-Nations Test on Saturday.
SANZAR Judicial Officer, Advocate Jannie Lubbe SC, reviewed video footage of the incident. He also heard evidence from the player and Australian coach Robbie Deans and submissions by Cooper's legal counsel.
Cooper admitted that his knee made contact with McCaw's face but testified that the contact was accidental as he was in the process of getting up from the ground and he had no intention of striking his opponent with the knee.
Lubbe found that Cooper's evidence was in line with video footage of the incident. He concluded that on the available evidence he was not satisfied on a balance of probability that Cooper acted in breach of Law 10.4 (a) and dismissed the citing.
I'm happy if he can put a good rib-tickler on McCaw
Have you had your eyes closed for the past 10 yrs? No surprise that two of the first few penalties were against McCaw for killing the ball. He started the whole fracas with Cooper by trying to kick Pocock (I think it was Pocock) in the balls in Hong Kong last year.
Well, a lucky break, methinks. I'm sure it will be more harshly reviewed elsewhere, but I guess we can all move on. I really, really hope somebody takes QC (Quade Cooper) aside and has a little chat.
Well, a lucky break, methinks. I'm sure it will be more harshly reviewed elsewhere, but I guess we can all move on. I really, really hope somebody takes QC (Quade Cooper) aside and has a little chat.
Why stop there? I mean, if you're gonna start going into the realms of fantasy, why can't Cooper just fly over his head or turn him into a goat or something?
Maybe I should have said " I'd be really happy and gob-smacked" ?
Thanks for putting that up, cruiser. If you have time could you do me a favour, please? Look back about three minutes before that and see what happened to Dan Vickerman. I think he was on the ground after a ruck on NZ's side of halfway and a black ran past and kneed him in the head or neck.
Well, a lucky break, methinks. I'm sure it will be more harshly reviewed elsewhere, but I guess we can all move on. I really, really hope somebody takes QC (Quade Cooper) aside and has a little chat.
Indeed. The SANZAR judiciary has maintained the lucky dip approach. Speaking of harsh reviews elsewhere, I imagine TSF is in full meltdown mode about now
Kev did this, Ali did that, Richie did that.
That has no bearing on the judiciary process. They don't sit there going "oh well there were lots of other cheap shots in the game so let's overlook this."
Knee to the head. End of story.
If the Wallabies took exception to Kev punching Elsom they would have raised it as a citing. But they don't. We all except the odd biff, but if you think it's the same as a knee to the head you possibly need a solid knock to the head yourself.