SBW appeals World Rugby ban ruling
Panel compromising three Australians decide ‘ game of three halves’ not fair dinkum match
When viewed objectively, it is, in our opinion, a training match, or, as was referred to by [ Williams’] counsel, a warm- up match World Rugby
Sonny Bill Williams is appealing the World Rugby decision which saw three Australians rub him out of the opening Bledisloe Cup test.
It was initially hoped Williams’ four- week suspension for his hit on Lions wing Anthony Watson would be served in time for the August 19 test in Sydney. But a World Rugby panel compromising three Australians, including former Wallabies David Croft and John Langford, deemed the All Blacks hit- out against Counties Manukau and Taranaki — known as the “game of three halves” — one week before the first Bledisloe was not worthy of a “match” and therefore ruled Williams out of the test.
New Zealand Rugby announced last night Williams would appeal the decision which was released early yesterday on World Rugby’s website.
Williams was sent off in the second test against the Lions on July 1 and was handed a four- match ban the next day for his shoulder charge on Watson.
Following his sending off, Williams subsequently missed the deciding Lions test and the Blues’ loss to the Sunwolves in Super Rugby. The school of thought — shared by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen — was that he would be able to serve his suspension in preseason games for Counties Manukau, and possibly in a club rugby fixture.
“There’s one game that’s a bit contentious about whether they are going to consider it or not,” Hansen had said before the decision.
“If that’s not the case then we’ll get him back just for the test match. If it’s considered then we’ll get him back for the ‘ game of three halves’ that we play every year before the Mitre 10 and Bledisloe starts,” said Hansen.
However, in their statement, World Rugby said that “following due consideration, the disciplinary committee has ruled that Williams’ suspension will extend up to and including August 19. As such, he is free to play again from August 20.”
The judiciary who made the decision was Australian trio Adam Casselden, Croft and Langford. Croft played five tests for the Wallabies in 2002 and 2005 while Langford appeared in four tests in 1997.
At the judiciary hearing, the All Blacks claimed Williams would play in pre- season for Counties Manukau against North Harbour, and in an inter- squad match involving a Counties B side.
Although the judicial committee accepted the game against North Harbour was meaningful, they were not satisfied that the inter- squad game on August 5 was set to “be a meaningful match” and would not “have had a meaningful playing consequence” for Williams, saying it was effectively “an internal club trial”.
They then also rejected the All Blacks’ “game of three halves” as it did not meet the World Rugby definition of a match, due to the introduction of a new team after halftime.
“When viewed objectively, it is, in our opinion, a training match, or, as was referred to by [ Williams’] counsel, a warm- up match,” argued World Rugby.