Banned All Blacks star ruled out of Springbok showdown

The All Blacks will be without Anton Lienert-Brown for at least their first two Tests of the year after he copped a three-week ban for foul play in the Super Rugby Pacific final.

Lienert-Brown was cited after he was handed a yellow card for a head-on-head collision with new All Blacks teammate and Crusaders wing Dallas McLeod early in the contest.

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ALL BLACKS LIENERT-BROWN CITED AFTER SUPER RUGBY FINAL

The Sanzaar Foul Play Review Committee said the incident contravened Law 9.13 which states: “A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously”.

“With respect to sanction, the Foul Play Review Committee held the act of foul play was reckless, with direct head-to-head contact made, high force and no significant mitigating factors present,” Foul Play Review Committee Chair Michael Heron said.

Heron said Lienert-Brown’s actions merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks for suspension but reduced it due to mitigating factors including his previously-clean record and early guilty plea.

“The player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including 29 July 2023.”

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The ruling means Lienert-Brown will miss the first three Tests of this year’s Rugby Championship against Argentina [9 July], the Springboks [15 July] and the Wallabies [29 July].

However, he could return for the Australia Test if he takes part in the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.

PHOTO: SPRINGBOKS FACE ALL BLACKS HAKA