Scotland duo Ross Ford and Jonny Gray have been banned for the duration of the Rugby World Cup after being cited for dangerous tackles in their final Pool B game against Samoa.
Both players received a three-week suspension that will see them miss their nation’s quarter-final clash against Australia this weekend as well as the semi-final should Vern Cotter’s side make it that far.
Both forwards have denied making dangerous tackles in their side’s 36-33 win last weekend and have 48 hours to appeal with a team spokesman saying that they were “disappointed by the outcome”.
As reported by the BBC, Australian citing commissioner Scott Newland accused Ford of breaching the rules regarding dangerous tackles while judicial officer Christopher Quinlan alleged that Gray committed an illegal tip tackle.
The rugby governing body highlighted that “tackles involving a player being lifted off the ground and tipped horizontally and were then either forced or dropped to the ground … must be dealt with severely by match officials and all those involved in the disciplinary process”.
Scottish Rugby have yet to decide whether they will appeal against the decisions, with Phil Goodlad for the BBC writing that they will fully analyse the written judgement before making a decision.
And Scotland back-row forward Josh Strauss spoke out about the anger felt towards his teammates suspensions.
“Obviously I can only speak for myself but I imagine myself in their shoes and how I would feel,” he told BBC Scotland.
“Personally it motivates me. We now want to make them proud.
“We’re all very disappointed for them. They are two very timid guys. Obviously I don’t make the calls but we feel it’s tough on them.”
The suspensions had originally been set at five weeks after World Rugby said the English QC had: “deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point, namely four weeks” with an extra week added in an attempt to deter on-field acts such as this.
However, the suspensions were reduced after the players’ expressions of regret had been heard at the hearing with their “exemplary characters and excellent disciplinary records” also taken into consideration.
Should Scotland fail to progress in the tournament then the suspensions will carry on over into the respective players’ clubs, Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors respectively.
And despite the citing commissioner in the case being Australian, Scotland coach Nathan Hines showed no concerns that he may be looking to give his nation an advantage ahead of the quarter-final clash.
“He is neutral isn’t he?” he said. “He’s very professional. He’s there to do a job and he thinks he’s seen something.
“World Rugby put him there because they are happy with his neutrality.”
