Force stand down two players over boozy flight, Wallaby to learn fate
Former Wallabies prop Greg Holmes is among three players at the Western Force who have gone into the bad books for drinking alcohol on the team's flight from Melbourne last weekend.
Hooker Andrew Ready and winger Byron Ralston have been stood down for Friday night's clash with the Queensland Reds in Perth.
The Force's lack of options at tighthead means Holmes hasn't been stood down for the match, but he will cop a penalty in the coming week.
It's understood the trio drank wine with their meal on the flight back from Melbourne last Sunday following the team's 28-3 win over the Rebels.
Their decision to drink alcohol when a short turnaround between games awaited them was deemed inappropriate by the team's leadership group.
The trio, who were all named on the bench against the Rebels last week, addressed the player group on Monday to apologise.
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Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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