KEY POINTS:
Ma'a Nonu was suspended for a week for a dangerous tackle but his Hurricanes teammate Jerry Collins escaped punishment after being found guilty of foul play by a Sanzar judiciary panel last night.
The judiciary, Bruce Squire QC, felt Collins' offence "was very much in the least serious category of foul play on the rugby field" and decided that the guilty finding was sufficient penalty for the All Black flanker.
Former All Black Nonu was found guilty of the dangerous tackle on Highlanders' player Clint Newland in the 55th minute of Friday's match at Carisbrook.
He was cited by citing commissioner Mike O'Leary and appeared for a hearing at the New Zealand Rugby Union headquarters in Wellington yesterday.
Nonu accepted that the tackle was dangerous and in breach of the law under which he was cited but claimed that the tackle warranted a minimal penalty only.
Mr Squire considered a range of matters and suspended him for one week, which means Nonu will miss Friday's match against the Brumbies in Canberra.
Collins also appeared before Mr Squire on a charge of striking an opponent in the same Highlanders' match, which the Hurricanes won 10-6.
He was found guilty of an act contrary to good sportsmanship - rolling his forearm across the face of Highlanders' David Hall after a tackle in the 67th minute.
No injury of any consequence was suffered by Hall and although Collins claimed he was acting in self defence, Mr Squire did not accept it.
The judiciary found that Collins had not punched or struck Hall but was satisfied that what he did was an act contrary to good sportsmanship.
Having regard to a number of matters put before him concerning Collins' role as a leading player in the Hurricanes and his other rugby community activities, Mr Squire considered that the guilty finding of foul play was sufficient penalty.
Both players appeared separately and were represented by lawyer Tim Castle, Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper and manager Tony Ward.
- NZPA
