Another low blow as ruling made for Sam Cane’s tackle on Robbie Henshaw

The Disciplinary Committee have cleared Sam Cane of any wrongdoing for his dangerous tackle on Robbie Henshaw on Saturday.

Henshaw was stretchered off the pitch just 10 minutes into the game after being hit square on the jaw by Cane's shoulder while spinning away from another tackle. Although Henshaw was taken out of the game, Cane remained on the pitch. Referee Jaco Peyper awarded Ireland the penalty but did not show the Kiwi any card for the incident. Ireland team manager Mick Kearney confirmed on Monday that Henshaw will not be available for the clash against Australia in the Aviva this weekend after suffering a concussion in the incident.

"Robbie Henshaw was knocked unconscious by a shoulder contact to his jaw. He suffered a concussion and will not be involved this week."

After reviewing video footage of the incident, listening to evidence and representations from and on behalf of the player, the Disciplinary Committee ruled that Cane’s hit on Henshaw only warranted a penalty deeming his contact with the back’s head to be accidental. Therefore he has been cleared of any foul play and will be free to resume playing immediately. The disciplinary update reads:

Sam Cane, the New Zealand flank forward, appeared today in London (Heathrow) before an independent Disciplinary Committee (appointed by World Rugby), having been cited by an independent Citing Commissioner (appointed by World Rugby) for allegedly tackling an opponent dangerously in contravention of Law 10.4 (e) in the Autumn International match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday 19 November 2016. Mr Cane did not accept that he had committed an act of foul play . The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Antony Davies (England), alongside Derek Bevan (Wales) and John Doubleday (England), having viewed video footage of the incident, listened to evidence and representations from and on behalf of the player, and reviewed all of the other evidence, concluded that Mr Cane's actions had been accidental and that he had not therefore committed an act of foul play. The citing complaint was not upheld and Mr Cane is therefore free to resume playing immediately.

This news follows Malakai Fekitoa receiving a one-week ban for his high tackle on Simon Zebo in the same game. The centre will have to sit out of the All Blacks' game with France in Paris.