Mark Tele'a cops three-week ban for dumping tackle

The Blues will be without superstar winger Mark Tele’a for three of their final four games of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season.

The suspension comes as a major blow for a side struggling to gain traction in their hunt for a playoff berth, now just one season removed from an all-conquering title run.

Tele’a was looking to make an impact play when he picked up Queensland Reds winger Tim Ryan and tackled him to the ground, lifting his opposite well past the horizontal.

The 30th-minute incident came about with the Blues down 14 points to nil in Brisbane, and saw Tele’a chase a clearance kick from No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu, catching Ryan somewhat unaware as the All Black ran in from the opposite wing.

A mild shoving match ensued as Reds players came to the defence of their teammate.

A foul play review committee found Tele’a guilty of a lifting tackle, applying an entry-point suspension of six weeks before Tele’a’s acceptance of the illegal act and disciplinary record was considered, reducing the suspension to three weeks.

Super Rugby Pacific

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Chiefs

10

8

2

0

37

2

Crusaders

10

8

2

0

37

3

Brumbies

10

6

4

0

29

4

Reds

9

6

3

0

27

5

Hurricanes

10

4

5

1

22

6

Force

10

4

5

1

22

7

Waratahs

9

5

4

0

21

8

Moana Pasifika

10

4

6

0

20

9

Blues

10

3

7

0

17

10

Highlanders

10

3

7

0

17

11

Fijian Drua

10

2

8

0

11

Tele’a will therefore be sidelined for the following contests:

Round 12 vs Western Force
Round 13 vs Fijian Drua
Round 14 vs Moana Pasifika

Each remaining match is crucial for the reigning champions, who sit ninth on the table, five points behind their round 12 opponents, the Force, who currently occupy the final of six playoff spots.

The Blues have a bye in round 15, but Tele’a will be available for the final round of action, a home game against the Waratahs.

Tele’a’s impending departure for the land of the rising sun, Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s Toyota Verblitz in particular, means that round 16 match may well be Auckland fans’ only remaining chance to catch Tele’a in Blues colours at Eden Park.