Perenara escapes citing after Cane ugly incident

Stand-in Hurricanes skipper TJ Perenara is free to play Saturday’s Super Rugby final against the Lions despite his part in an ugly incident involving Chiefs captain Sam Cane at Westpac Stadium.

Perenara has escaped citing despite appearing to lash out at Cane with his boot, which made contact with the Chiefs flanker’s head in the 57th minute of Saturday’s semifinal.

Sanzaar spokesman Greg Thomas confirmed there were no citings from either semifinal at the weekend. Citing commissioners thoroughly reviewed the footage of both matches in Wellington and Johannesburg and found no player had a case to answer within the 12 hour post-match deadline under tournament regulations.

The in-form Perenara could be considered lucky to escape sanction, which could have cost him a place in the final and even some All Blacks tests. According to World Rugby’s guidelines, suspensions for kicking range from a two-week ban to 12 weeks for a ‘‘top end’’ offence.

Television coverage captured the incident, when Cane tackled Perenara without the ball in an attempted cleanout at a ruck. On the ground, Perenara lashed out with both boots and collected Cane in the head. He appeared to show immediate concern for Cane’s welfare as his opponent reeled from the blow, but match officials didn’t revisit the incident.