Los Pumas suffer major blow as flyhalf banned for Springbok Test
NEWS: Argentina have suffered a significant setback ahead of Saturday’s one-off Test against the Springboks in Buenos Aires, with star flyhalf Tomás Albornoz ruled out through suspension.
Albornoz will miss the clash after receiving a four-match ban for misconduct following Argentina’s Nations Championship encounter against England on July 18.
The sanction comes after the playmaker admitted misconduct arising from his interactions with match officials after the match.
In its findings under Regulation 18, the disciplinary committee noted that Albornoz accepted the allegations against him and acknowledged that his conduct, taken as a whole, was intimidatory.
According to a statement released by World Rugby, the committee found that Albornoz made limited physical contact with referee Angus Gardner while disputing a decision. Although the contact itself was minor, it formed part of an overall pattern of intimidatory behaviour.
The committee also noted that Albornoz approached Gardner on two separate occasions and had to be restrained by his teammates.
While Albornoz accepted that his behaviour amounted to intimidation of a match official, he did not accept that his actions were abusive, insulting, offensive or threatening. That distinction was accepted by both World Rugby and the disciplinary committee.
In determining the sanction, the committee considered the incident comparable to the low-end entry point for contact with a match official under Appendix 1 to Regulation 17, which carries a recommended six-match suspension.
However, Albornoz’s early admission of guilt, his commitment to issue both public and private written apologies, and his previously clean disciplinary record were accepted as significant mitigating factors, resulting in the suspension being reduced to four matches.
Albornoz is therefore suspended for the following matches:
August 8: Argentina v South Africa
August 29 : Argentina v Australia
September 5: Argentina v Australia
September 12: Toulon v Stade Rochelais
