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Red-carded Zack Holmes is given a European semi-finals lifeline

Red-carded Zach Holmes was sent off just nine months ago in another European fixture (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Zack Holmes will be available for Toulouse’s Champions Cup semi-final in Dublin after a disciplinary hearing banned him for just one week following his red card in the quarter-final win at Racing 92.

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There had been fears that the Australian would receive a ban that would keep him out of his club’s huge game against defending champions Leinster.

However, while the committee at an independent disciplinary hearing in Paris upheld the red card decision, it found that the act of foul play was at the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected two weeks as the appropriate entry point.

There were no aggravating factors and due to Holmes’s guilty plea and good disciplinary record, the committee reduced the sanction by one week before imposing a suspension of one week. As he was suspended pending the disciplinary hearing, Holmes is free to play immediately. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

Holmes had been red-carded just 22 minutes into the quarter-final on March 31. The Toulouse out-half had initially appeared to have got away scot-free for his intervention near the half-way line on Racing winger Imhoff, referee Luke Pearce at first stating: “There has not been foul play on the tackle, so we can play on, correct? Okay.”

However, with the partisan Parisian crowd incensed after a video was shown on the La Defense stadium screen, Pearce changed his mind, called time off and opted to properly review the incident.

Here’s now Pearce’s assessment was reached during his red card conversation with  TMO Rowan Kitt…

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LP: You can totally understand why I want to have one more look at it. Okay, we are in no rush.

RK: I am going to show you a high tackle. I want you to look at his right arm. 

LP: Ok, there is no worries. Put it on the screen for me please.

RK: Yeah, it’s coming now.

LP: So Kitty, for me we definitely have foul play first to begin with.

RK: Yeah.

LP: So now we need to decipher because on the screen this looks bad, so I need to decipher if the Racing guy is falling to ground which would make it not a red card if he is not dipping. From what I am seeing on the screen it’s a shoulder to the neck of the Racing player.

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RK: Yeah, I agree with that.

LP: So can we have one more look at that just to make sure the guy is not dipping to ground which might bring it down? Let’s have a look, let’s just slow it down. So the point of contact by 10, I am not seeing anything mitigating. 

RK: It’s his right arm hitting first but there is shoulder into neck as well. 

LP: So listen, I am not seeing enough to mitigate this down to anything other than a red card. Is anyone else seeing anything different here? To the neck, with force, it’s a red card. Kitty, are we in agreement here? Anything to add?

Pearce then moved back towards the players, holding a meeting with Holmes that also had Toulouse skipper Jerome Kaino and Racing captain Dimitri Szarzewski in attendance. 

LP: Okay, so No10 please. Just let me explain. We had another look on the screen, you have tackled him high, there aren’t any mitigating factors and your shoulder has gone straight into his neck. That’s a red card.  

It was Holmes’ first red card in his career and there was sympathy as he walked towards the touchline, the Toulouse No10 receiving a couple of sympathetic handshakes from Racing players including the high-tackled Imhoff.

The distraught Australian ultimately had the last laugh, though, his team rallying to find a way to still win despite being a man down.

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S
Soliloquin 1 hour ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

For Fischer, many people in France are still doubting him - it’s the first time he has a full season (31 games). Before, he was always injured at some point. He’s 27, so not the youngest, and you have a younger Boudehent or Jégou behind.

His physicality is incredible, but he didn’t prove he’s got hands. He just proved he was able to defend like a beast.

But you know, even Cros has improved his handling skills lately, so it’s never too late!

And he will play the Champions Cup with a solid Bayonne side, so let’s see!


I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and Galthié likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

For Depoortère, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.


As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.


And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

236 Go to comments
S
Soliloquin 1 hour ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Hastoy was a good prospect before the 2023 RWC, he was the fly-half who led La Rochelle to the victory in the Champions Cup final in Dublin against Leinster.

But he made it to the squad only because Ntamack got his ACL.

He played against Uruguay, which a terribly poor game by the French side, and since then he declined a bit, alongside his club.

Under the pressure of Reus and West at 10, he regained some credit at the end of the season (among all a drop at the 81st minute of a game).

He’s quite good everywhere, but not outstanding.

He doesn’t have the nerves, the defense and the tactical brain of Ntamack, the leadership and the creativity of Ramos or the exceptional attacking skills of Jalibert.


I really hope that:

-Ntamack will get his knee back. The surgery went well. He wasn’t the most elusive player in the world, but he was capable of amazing rushes like the one against NZ in 2021 or the Brennus-winning try in 2023.

-Jalibert will continue to improve his defense. He started working hard since March (after his defensive disaster against England) with a XIII specialist, and I’ve seen great moments, especially against Ntamack in the SF of the Champions Cup. It’s never too late. And it would be a great signal for Galthié.

-Hastoy will build up his partnership with Le Garrec, that La Rochelle will start a new phase with them and Niniashvili, Alldritt, Atonio, Boudehent, Jegou, Bosmorin, Bourgarit, Nowell, Wardi, Daunivucu, Kaddouri, Pacôme…

236 Go to comments
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LONG READ Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France