Tyson Keats gets 4 weeks for spear tackle

[Shaggy]

Well, Hurricanes halfback gets 4 weeks for the spear tackle he made on Blues halfback Alby Mathewson ... good job IMO ... the game can do without spear tackles

Source:- New Zealand's Radio Sports website

http://www.radiosport.co.nz/SportsNews/sprug/Detail.aspx?id=196307

Keats suspended for four weeks
5/9/2011 4:32 PM

Hurricanes halfback Tyson Keats has been suspended from Super Rugby for four weeks.

Keats has been found guilty of a spear tackle on Blues opposite Alby Mathewson, for which he was sin-binned during the match.

It leaves the Canes halfback stocks rather short.

If Piri Weepu isn't cleared to return from injury, coach Mark Hammett may be forced to use one of his first-fives as cover.

However Hammett says things are looking up for Weepu.

He says Weepu's pulled up well from a calf injury, but they'll have to see how he recovers.

Ma'a Nonu's likely to return to the Canes side to play the Highlanders this weekend, while there's also a possibility Conrad Smith will be back.

 

[Darwin]

Well, Hurricanes halfback gets 4 weeks for the spear tackle he made on Blues halfback Alby Mathewson ... good job IMO ... the game can do without spear tackles

Source:- New Zealand's Radio Sports website

http://www.radiosport.co.nz/SportsNews/sprug/Detail.aspx?id=196307

Keats suspended for four weeks
5/9/2011 4:32 PM

Hurricanes halfback Tyson Keats has been suspended from Super Rugby for four weeks.

Keats has been found guilty of a spear tackle on Blues opposite Alby Mathewson, for which he was sin-binned during the match.

It leaves the Canes halfback stocks rather short.

If Piri Weepu isn't cleared to return from injury, coach Mark Hammett may be forced to use one of his first-fives as cover.

However Hammett says things are looking up for Weepu.

He says Weepu's pulled up well from a calf injury, but they'll have to see how he recovers.

Ma'a Nonu's likely to return to the Canes side to play the Highlanders this weekend, while there's also a possibility Conrad Smith will be back.

4 weeks sounds about right to me.... I would happy if there were even more severe punishments, as these sort of tackles need to be stamped out of the game, as they have the potential to cause very serious injury. I was a bit disappointed that one (or both) of the Highlanders duo of Aaron Smith and Jarred Hoeata where not banned for a few weeks for an equally ugly spear tackle on Toby Morland the week before (they got off because Smith was cited, but the citing commission decided Hoeata was more responsible for the tackle).

 

[Larksea]

that tackle was a shocker, need to cut that stuff out.

I think it "maybe" should have been a red card at the time.

 

[Shaggy]

that tackle was a shocker, need to cut that stuff out.

I think it "maybe" should have been a red card at the time.

I'm thinking he probably only got yellow carded because Mathewson got up from the tackle relatively quickly. The citing commissioner obviously thought it was a red card offense, otherwise he couldn't have been cited ... anyway, hopefully it will make other players think twice about tackling like that

 

[smartcooky]

I am happy to see that the judiciary have sent a clear message out regarding dangerous tip-tackles ahead of the Tri-Nations. These are offenses that were getting two weeks for first time offenders last season, and they have upped the ante.

Players need to learn that picking up a player and turning them over has no place in the game. I suspect that if we see another tackle as severe as this one from now on, the offender will be staring down the barrel at

I was a bit disappointed that one (or both) of the Highlanders duo of Aaron Smith and Jarred Hoeata where not banned for a few weeks for an equally ugly spear tackle on Toby Morland the week before (they got off because Smith was cited, but the citing commission decided Hoeata was more responsible for the tackle).

Hopefully, the citing commissioners will learn from that and cite BOTH players in any similar situation in the future. Alter all, the Judiciary can always let the "least responsible" player off, or give him a lesser suspension.

Like the unofficial; SAS motto.... Kill 'em all; let God sort 'em out!!