The IRB have cited two players after the first weekend of Autumn International Tests.

Rob Simmons of Australia luckily avoided being sent off after a crunching late ‘tip’ tackle on France’s Yannick Nyanga. Simmons caught a break because none of the match officials saw the number of the offending player so he couldn’t be sent off.

On Sunday, Adam Thomson of New Zealand All Blacks was binned for ‘stamping or trampling’ Alasdair Strokosh of Scotland. A ban for Thomson could in theory end his All Blacks career on a downer; he’s widely expected to move to Japan and a ban resulting from this incident would most likely rule him out of the rest of these Autumn tests.

See the full press release after the break…

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE – SIMMONS AND THOMSON CITINGS

For immediate release: Monday 12th November 2012

Two players have been cited by independent IRB Citing Commissioners following the weekend’s round of Autumn International matches.
Rob Simmons, Australia’s replacement lock forward, was cited by Freek Burger of South Africa for a dangerous “tip” tackle under Law 10.4 (j) on Yannick Nyanga of France after 25 minutes of the second half of the match at Stade de France on Saturday evening.
Adam Thomson, New Zealand’s blindside wing forward, was cited by Murray Whyte of Ireland for stamping or trampling (Law 10.4 (b)) on Alasdair Strokosch of Scotland after 3 minutes of the second half of the match at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Hearings for both players will be held before independent IRB-appointed Judicial Officers in London on Wednesday.
Note
Law 10.4(j) Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player’s feet are still off the ground such that the player’s head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play.
Law 10.4(b) Stamping or trampling. A player must not stamp or trample on an opponent.