Brad Ban?

[DGP Wasp]

Common sense prevails.

However, regardless of the circumstances, this is entirely irrelevant:

"A character reference from Wasps coach Lee Blackett was provided to the panel. He is a very experienced international player, playing over 100 Super Rugby games for the Hurricanes, including many as captain. He has played over 50 games for Wasps and is currently team captain. He has won eight international caps for England."

A character reference from his own head coach???  How is that even admissible as part of the process?  And with all that experience, some would say he ought to know better than a young lad fresh out of the academy getting pinged for the same.  In this instance it's academic as a ban was rightly deemed disproportionate, but there will be (and have been) other more serious cases where such information would be taken into account.  Nonsense.

[Neils]

Common sense prevails.

However, regardless of the circumstances, this is entirely irrelevant:

"A character reference from Wasps coach Lee Blackett was provided to the panel. He is a very experienced international player, playing over 100 Super Rugby games for the Hurricanes, including many as captain. He has played over 50 games for Wasps and is currently team captain. He has won eight international caps for England."

A character reference from his own head coach???  How is that even admissible as part of the process?  And with all that experience, some would say he ought to know better than a young lad fresh out of the academy getting pinged for the same.  In this instance it's academic as a ban was rightly deemed disproportionate, but there will be (and have been) other more serious cases where such information would be taken into account.  Nonsense.

At least he didn't quote charadee work and taking old people across the wrong road like one other does.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Some big calls to make in that back row for Saturday now.  Brad cleared, Young and Carr available, T Willis undroppable (IMO) on the back of last weekend, Fifita presumably continuing in 2nd row.  Can't imagine Oghre will play 7 again this week ahead of some of those.

Centre will be interesting too.  Gopperth needs protecting to ensure we have cover for Umaga, so do we risk him at 12 with Booj 13 (worked well enough vs Bris), or does one of the youngsters get a start?  Personally I'd be delighted to see Spink given a shot.

T Willis may be undroppable, but he does need managing and he put in huge shift last week.

Tired bodies pick up injuries. 

[Shugs]

Not sure that really is a "character" reference anyway - more a list of appearances.

[Brandnewtorugby]

Isn't the full point being made in the character reference that he has played all of those high level games and only received two previous yellow cards. That is surely relevant and the coach is probably in the best place to provide that information.

[Chunky24]

Be an interesting one if it was the end of the season the player got red carded, the player was leaving for a new club next season, the coach did a terrible character reference and got him banned for longer for his new club!

[JonnyD]

Common sense prevails.

However, regardless of the circumstances, this is entirely irrelevant:

"A character reference from Wasps coach Lee Blackett was provided to the panel. He is a very experienced international player, playing over 100 Super Rugby games for the Hurricanes, including many as captain. He has played over 50 games for Wasps and is currently team captain. He has won eight international caps for England."

A character reference from his own head coach???  How is that even admissible as part of the process?  And with all that experience, some would say he ought to know better than a young lad fresh out of the academy getting pinged for the same.  In this instance it's academic as a ban was rightly deemed disproportionate, but there will be (and have been) other more serious cases where such information would be taken into account.  Nonsense.

Remember McCall and Jones’ glowing character reference of Farrell after he took Atkinson’s head off - got him back just in time for England duty.
The whole system needs a rethink and showing remorse and pleading guilty and getting a 50% ban reduction is crazy. Brad being cleared is right though

[MarleyWasp]

If the offence is something not caught on camera and there is every chance a player could get away with it if they pleaded not guilty then I have no objection in them getting a 50% reduction.

When it's something caught clearly on camera like the Carreras incident and a player pleads guilty because the video evidence is so overwhelming there would be questions raised if they didn't, then they shouldn't be getting a reduction because they essentially have no choice.