Cheap shot All Black slapped with ban
Veteran prop Joe Moody has been suspended for two games, following his cheap shot on Kurtley Beale in the Crusaders' comeback 31-29 win over the Waratahs.
Moody struck Beale with an elbow – way in front of a teammate carrying the ball – to the throat, just before scoring a try.
His attack on Beale created the gap through which a teammate ran to set up the try.
The match officials overlooked the incident.
The SANZAAR foul play review committee has accepted a guilty plea from Joe Moody of the Crusaders for contravening Law 9.12: Striking with hand or arm, after he was cited during a Super Rugby Match at the Weekend.
Moody has been suspended from all forms of the game for 2 matches, up to and including Friday 25 May 2018.
The incident occurred in the 34th minute of the match between the Crusaders and Waratahs played at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on 12 May 2018.
The SANZAAR foul play review committee of Nigel Hampton (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and John Langford assessed the case.
In his finding, foul play review committee Chairman Nigel Hampton ruled that Moody had contravened Law 9.12: "Striking with hand or arm".
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and a statement from the player, and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the foul play review committee upheld the citing under Law 9.12," a SANZAAR statement said
"With respect to sanction, the foul play review committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of four weeks due to the dangerous contact with the opposing player's head.
"However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player's excellent judicial record, good character and guilty plea at the earliest possible opportunity, the foul play review committee reduced the suspension to two weeks.
"The player is therefore suspended for two weeks, up to and including Friday 25 May 2018."
All SANZAAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to the foul play review committee to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.
For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the foul play review committee.
