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Melbourne Rebels' back-rower banned for dangerous tackle
By AAP
Melbourne Rebels' try-scoring back-rower Josh Kemeny has been suspended for three weeks for a dangerous tackle during their Super Rugby Pacific loss to the Brumbies on Sunday.
The 24-year-old will only return for the last round in a blow to their hopes of pushing into the finals-bound top eight.
Kemeny showed his athleticism in their tight 33-26 defeat, charging 30 metres to the tryline to open the scoring.
But he was cited for a tackle on Brumbies centre Len Ikitau midway through the first half, although wasn't penalised at the time for the action.
The citing commissioner deemed the incident met the red card threshold for foul play.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of chairman Michael Heron KC, Stefan Terblanche and John Langford assessed the case and ruled the tackle was illegal.
"With respect to sanction, the Foul Play Review Committee held the act of foul play was late and dangerous with direct and forceful contact made head-to-head," Heron said in a statement.
"Whilst the player attempted to pull out of a late tackle, he was always high and there was no applicable mitigation."
The committee deemed the action warranted a six-week ban, which was reduced to three due to Kemeny's record and guilty plea.
That means the Sydney-born flanker will miss Saturday's clash with the NSW Waratahs in Sydney, an away match against the Highlanders and their final home game of the season against the Western Force.
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Latest Comments
I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.
Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.
Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.
They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.
That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.
Go to commentsGB = England, Scotland, Wales. UK = England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Nothing to stew son.
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