Wallabies learn hearing fate with Springboks looming
Australia wing Filipo Daugunu will be available for the start of the Rugby Championship despite receiving a three-match ban for his red card against Georgia.
The 29-year-old was red-carded in the first half of the Wallabies' 40-29 win over Georgia after a bunker review for making contact with the head of opposite man Demur Tapladze with his knee in a charge-down attempt.
The wing has subsequently been banned for three matches this week, though that can be reduced to two should he complete World Rugby's Coaching Intervention Programme.
The matches Daugunu will therefore miss will be for Queensland Premier Rugby's Sunnybank, who face Souths and UQ on July 27 and August 3.
He will then return for the opening match of the Rugby Championship against the Springboks in Brisbane on August 10, who conversely will be without the recently-banned Andre Esterhuizen.
A World Rugby statement reads: "Australia’s Filipo Daugunu has been suspended for two matches (subject to the completion of World Rugby's Coaching Intervention Programme) for a red card offence contrary to Law 9.11 (dangerous tackle). The red card was issued in Australia’s match against Georgia in Sydney on 20 July, 2024.
"The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Michael Heron KC (New Zealand), joined by former international referee Donal Courtney (Ireland) and former international rugby player Stefan Terblanche (South Africa).
"The player accepted that foul play had occurred but did not accept that the offence warranted a red card.
"The Committee considered the player’s submissions, along with the clips and other available evidence and found that the red card was upheld. While the red card issued was for Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle), the Committee decided that the offence should be 9.11 (players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous) as it was an attempted charge down.
"The Committee considered the appropriate entry point for the offending and decided that the offence warranted the mandatory mid-end entry point for offending involving contact with the head of six matches. Having considered submissions as regards mitigation, the Committee applied full 50 per cent mitigation to the sanction resulting in a sanction of three matches. An additional match may be removed from the sanction should the player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention for Sanction Mitigation (CISM) which applies to foul play involving head contact."
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Willis is decent in the lineout to be fair, but definitely lacking a heavyweight ball carrier.
I think between Underhill, Curry, and Willis there isn't a huge amount between them. Maybe Willis would be good enough to start, but he wouldn't massively improve the team.
Go to commentsI'm not sure he is getting there and I don't think he will. Progress has been glacial honestly. Our attacking structure hasn't improved at all, except that he's now picking Marcus Smith who is a one man attack at the moment... And our defence for obvious reasons is now awful. I would have faith in Borthwick if I had faith in his assistant coaches... But I don't think Wigglesworth is an attack coach and why would he be? He's never been an attack coach and he spent his entire career box kicking. Our defence coach has never been employed as a defence coach and is still the head coach of a second division French side with an awful defensive record. The fact that Borthwick appointed them both is a poor reflection. If we still had Felix Jones and we had Mike Catt/Nick Evans or someone in the attack coach role, I'd be content to be patient and that results will come. With Wigglesworth and Joe El Abd, I have no faith that we will improve and I've seen no signs that we are.
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