Stormers coach John Dobson and his management staff are “flabbergasted” by a three-week ban for front-row Sazi Sandi following a red card against Edinburgh.
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Sandi was red-carded late in the United Rugby Championship (URC) clash in Cape Town for a dangerous tackle that saw head-to-head contact in the collision.
Reduced ban
The Stormer’s tackle was deemed to have met the mid-range threshold, but a good disciplinary record, remorse and admitting guilt mitigated the ban to three weeks.
Dobson was left outraged by the decision and expressed frustration when speaking to the media in Parma ahead of the defending champions’ game against Zebre this weekend.
“As a team, management and group of players, we were absolutely flabbergasted with the outcome,” the Stormers coach said.
“I don’t think anybody is more aware in rugby about the concerns for their safety than the players. Believe it or not, they know when somebody has done a cheap shot or that sort of thing.
“To sanction a young kid like Sazi like that… you can ban for three weeks, fine, but it’s looking like an inconsistent product. I think we are losing players and the public with the inconsistency.
“The other thing that concerns me that is that he gets a three-week ban, but I don’t know what else he could have done. If a player leads with an elbow or something similar and gets a red card, then that’s understandable. That’s a player behaviour that can be changed.
“I’ve watched that Sazi Sandi clip about 100 times. He has dipped and I am not sure what else Sazi could have done. I am not sure what they are telling Sazi not to do. I really don’t understand that.
Tightening up on discipline
“A player should be treated with some dignity and respect through the process. I really feel for Sazi. We will take this up in our own way. We have had a few URC disciplinaries now, which we must try and stop.
“Sazi was brilliant when he came on last week. We are so excited about his future but we need to get him time in the saddle. So having him out for three weeks isn’t great, not for the team or Sazi’s development. He’s not coming here or to Wales, but we look forward to having him back.”
Dobson’s men have started the URC with two bonus point wins and face Ospreys and Cardiff on their tour following their clash in Italy.