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Tahs prop banned for dangerous cleanout on Crusaders lock
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Daniel Botha has copped a suspension for a dangerous clean-out and will miss the NSW Waratahs’ Super Rugby Pacific derby against the Western Force.
The prop thundered into a ruck in the second half of the Waratahs’ Super Round loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday, seemingly coming into contact with lock Antonio Shalfoon that left Crusaders players unhappy.
All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell took issue with Botha and became embroilled in a wrestle. The incident went unpunished in the game.
He missed the mark and was initially slapped with a four-game ban for the act of foul play with Super Rugby Pacific’s foul play review committee ruling that Botha was guilty of dangerous play in a ruck in contravention of Law 9.20b.
But mitigation – including an early guilty plea, his good record and remorse – halved the ban, while he can still apply to complete World Rugby’s coach intervention program and strike a third game off the suspension.
It means he’ll still miss Friday’s clash with the dangerous Force, who beat the Crusaders before enjoying a last-round bye.
The Sydney clash should see the return of Wallabies star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii for the hosts, against the Force’s fellow NRL code-hopper Zac Lomax.
Dan McKellar’s side’s loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch left them teetering at 4-5 in eighth, four points behind the sixth-placed Reds, who have a game in hand.
The Force (3-6) are 10th but, after a string of tight losses before their Crusaders comeback a fortnight ago, have a points differential superior to the Reds.
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