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JRFU deny Amanaki Mafi altercation
By Online Editors
The Japan Rugby Football Union has denied rumours of a physical altercation involving No 8 Amanaki Mafi this year.
The Sydney Morning Herald revealed they were told the 28-year-old was involved in a physical altercation with a staff member while playing for Japan earlier this year.
Mafi has found himself in trouble recently, and is currently facing a serious assault charge after allegedly fighting former Rebels team-mate Lopeti Timani following their final fixture of the season in July. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
A JRFU spokeswoman said the earlier incident from June was not physical.
"Amanaki Lelei Mafi had a disagreement with one of our staffs, but clearly it was nothing violent," she said.
"Head coach Jamie Joseph was able to manage the situation and the case was shared and settled among the team members and staff."
Mafi is coming off a stellar season for both Japan and the Rebels and looked to be a key piece of Japan's Rugby World Cup campaign.
However, history tells us that Japanese rugby has a stern approach to off-field behaviour. Earlier this year former Wallabies captain George Smith was sacked following an alleged assault on a taxi driver.
Both the NTT Shining Arcs - Mafi's Top League club in Japan - and the JRFU are waiting on the judicial process before deciding Mafi's fate.
The Rebels - Mafi's former Super Rugby club - this week announced an internal review of their "welfare and integrity framework" following Mafi and Timani's altercation.
Just one week after Mafi and Timani's alleged incident, Rebels rookies Hunter Paisami and Pone Fa'amausili were suspended indefinitely following their alleged involvement in an incident that left a man in hospital. Paisami was later charged and will face court in September.
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John, McKenzie was 10 years ago and he only lasted 15 months until the disgustingly unfair affair that brought him down. I thought that if he didn't get another gig over Eddie V2 then he was done. I read that he had been approached but declined to put his name in the ring.
There are no potential Wallaby coaches outside of McKellar unless you have some inside info?
Go to commentsThe way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.
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