Williams escapes ban for punching
Samoan fullback Paul Williams has escaped a ban, after being sent off in the World Cup Pool D game against South Africa for striking an opponent in the face, organisers announced on Saturday.
The incident happened 10 minutes from time with the Samoans battling hard to get back on terms with the defending champions at 5-13 down.
Springbok flank Heinrich Brüssow attempted to free himself from Williams’ grasp way off the ball, and the Samoan got off the ground and lashed out – by striking him in the face.
Williams, the son of All Blacks great Bryan Williams, admitted the offence at a disciplinary hearing in Auckland on Saturday.
A World Cup statement said that the judicial officer who heard the case found that there were compelling mitigating features to the incident.
“In particular he determined that the strike was an open-handed push, the contact was not heavy and there was no adverse effect on the victim player or the match,” the statement read.
On that basis no further sanction was deemed necessary and Williams is free to play with immediate effect.
The Samoan was the first player to be red-carded at the tournament.
Welsh referee Nigel Owens came in for heavy criticism from the Samoan camp for the way he handled the match.
AFP
