Australian forward Angus Crichton is facing a two-match suspension for the forearm that forced Samoa’s Chanel Harris-Tavita from the field in the World Cup final.
Crichton was sent to the sin bin for the incident, which occurred in the 45th minute of Australia’s 30-10 victory.
He’s been charged with Grade B Reckless Striking which carries a two match suspension. Crichton has until 10pm Monday to appeal the ban.
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With the World Cup now complete, Crichton will serve the ban for the Roosters in 2023.
Speaking immediately after the World Cup final, Samoan coach Matt Parish slammed referee Ashley Klein’s “weak” decision to sin bin Crichton, rather than sending him off.
“Five minutes into the second half our hooker gets elbowed in the head and gets carted off, then the referee makes a weak decision and puts him in the bin, dumbfounded,” Parish said.
“An elbow to the head and the hooker gets knocked out and taken out of the game.”
Crichton revealed after the match he’d apologised to Harris-Tavita.
”He’s a great player and I am actually meant to be travelling with him after this so there’s no bad blood between me and Chanel … I am genuinely sorry for that, it was not my intention at all,” he said.
“I didn’t know he was coming and there was no malice at all, sending out my blessings to his family.
“It was just a genuine reaction, I never go out on the field to try and hurt someone.”
In other judiciary news, Kiwi lock Georgia Hale was cautioned for a hair pull in the World Cup final against the Jillaroos.
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