MY ACCOUNT
Australia lock Darcy Swain has been suspended for six weeks for his reckless clean-out of New Zealand’s Quinn Tupaea in last week’s Rugby Championship clash.
Swain entered a ruck and made firm contact with the knee of All Blacks centre Tupaea, who suffered a ruptured medial cruciate injury and is facing nine months out.
The 25-year-old was shown a yellow card at the time and was cited after New Zealand’s remarkable 39-37 Bledisloe Cup victory at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
A SANZAAR Judicial Committee ruled on Wednesday that Swain contravened Law 9.11, which states “players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others”.
Swain’s ban extends to November 6, ruling him out of this weekend’s return match with New Zealand, as well as tour matches against Scotland and France.
He had controversially been selected in Australia A’s squad to tour Japan next month, with that seen as a ploy to use up the suspension.
However, by making the ban time-related, rather than match-related, that controversial ploy has been negated.
Asked about Swain’s ban on Thursday, All Blacks coach Ian Foster said he was satisfied with the process.
“It is what it is,” he said. “We spoke after the game and basically said there’s a process that people go through. We’re fully aware of that. He’s got what he’s got.
“I haven’t read the judiciary [report], but clearly he’s gone through a process and that’s what they’ve come up with.”
