Ladies and Gentlemen, place your bets please

[DGP Wasp]

Unfortunately, the game is dangerous, and serious injuries sometimes happen even in innocuous situations
As such, I don't see the panel taking that into account too much.


In the context of the game, Farrell wasn't playing particularly well, his team were struggling but still more than capable of winning... They just needed a little something extra.

With that in mind, Farrell deviced it was time for a big hit to change the flow of the game.
We'd just brought a young fly half on, Farrell undoubtedly wanted to put a mark on him

I genuinely believe he went in with full intention of leaving one on him and ensuring that he knew who and what he was up against.
I also genuinely believe that he didn't intend to injure him - and that's where the remorse / apology comes in.



Ultimately, it's incredibly reckless and exactly the sort of thing that the RFU, and world rugby, are trying to get out of the game.
However, without precedence, I don't expect to see anything out of the ordinary from the panel.
I suspect worst case will be 6 games reduced to 3

This is exactly as I saw it.

[hopwood]

It seems the judiciary panel are once again delaying the release of the outcome until after the papers have gone to press to try and dilute the story over a few days rather than full-on feeding the headlines the following day.

I can’t find another explanation.

[Raggs]

5 wks. Top end offence reduced by half for guilty plea and being a decent fellow.

[ArleyWasp]

Totally agree, which suggests a slap on the wrist and a return to play before the injured player can recover!  Justice? Depends who you are.

[Hymenoptera]

5 matches rather than weeks..how does some charity work count for anything?

[hopwood]

Funny how Saracens had control over how this was released.

No other major news outlets had access to this breaking news.
Saracens get to control the initial narrative.

[Raggs]

Funny how Saracens had control over how this was released.

No other major news outlets had access to this breaking news.
Saracens get to control the initial narrative.

?

The RFU released it.

[MarleyWasp]

Call me a cynic but in the basis that Saracens will lose to Leinster:

Misses:
Sale v Saracens
Saracens v Exeter
Leinster v Saracens
Worcester v Saracens
Saracens v Bath

Available for:
England v Barbarians
Italy v England
England's 3 pool games in the 8 Nations..

What a load of c**p.

[Rossm]

The 4 prem games are really pretty meaningless.

[JonnyD]

After a testimonial from Eddie as well.

Exactly what I thought he’d get so not massively surprised

[hopwood]

Funny how Saracens had control over how this was released.

No other major news outlets had access to this breaking news.
Saracens get to control the initial narrative.

?

The RFU released it.

Saracens released it before the RFU officially released it on their news section and therefore...to the press.
I just thought that was a bit weird.

[Shugs]

Stinks. Is there precedent for off field activity being taken into account? Also Eddie effectively via his testimonial supporting the tackle. Jones' input should have been discounted as he has a massive vested interest.

[Neils]

5 matches rather than weeks..how does some charity work count for anything?

Because Nigel says it does.

[westwaleswasp]

I do not think remorse has any role to play here as he clearly committed himself to do harm. That the harm was more dangerous than he anticipated because of the movement of the other player is of no consequence.

I would ban him for 12 weeks.

+1.

That tackle was dangerous and could have broken Charlie's neck.

Plus 1. I am surprised there is so much mitigation out there for what could easily have had extreme consequences. Sure, the game has risks involved and nasty things can happen without fault, but the chance of something like this being serious is surely much greater than most high tackles we see punished. One of the nastiest of its type in a long while....

[Heathen]

Call me a cynic but in the basis that Saracens will lose to Leinster:

Misses:
Sale v Saracens
Saracens v Exeter
Leinster v Saracens
Worcester v Saracens
Saracens v Bath

Available for:
England v Barbarians
Italy v England
England's 3 pool games in the 8 Nations..

What a load of c**p.

In the unlikely (though possible event) of Sarries beating Leinster, he would also miss the SF.