KEY POINTS:
Clint Newland could face a ban of five or six weeks for punching Neemia Tialata in Hawkes Bay's upset win over Wellington on Saturday, says Waikato coach Warren Gatland.
Newland is to face an NZRU disciplinary panel in Wellington at 4pm today over the punch that left Tialata unconscious and requiring a check-up at hospital.
Gatland said Newland probably deserved the punishment that was heading his way but that Tialata hadn't been completely blameless for the incident.
"Obviously the punch is unacceptable but if Tialata has pushed someone in a lineout and that's how he's reacted, well that's how players used to react in the past," Gatland said.
"So I think there's a lesson for everyone - Tialata has taken the risk of pushing someone and Newland hasn't liked it and given him a whack.
"Was what Tialata did enough to deserve a punch? No, it probably wasn't."
There would be no winner from the situation as Newland had let his team down by likely ruling himself out for "five or six weeks", while Tialata had suffered the physical consequences of Newland's punch, he said.
Waikato's players were on notice that such acts were unacceptable, he said.
"Our players know there is no place for it in rugby at all. I love teams being hard and physical and at times you have to stand up for yourself and we all know there are situations where sometimes you have to get involved and defend yourself. But, in terms of initiating it, I just can't stand it and don't condone it at all."
