New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick will miss the autumn internationals against Wales and Scotland after being handed a three-week suspension following his red card against Japan on Saturday.
Retallick will, however, be available to face England at Twickenham on Nov. 19 if he completes a coaching intervention programme, an independent judicial committee said on Tuesday. He has 48 hours to appeal his sentence.
It is a blow for a New Zealand side already without captain Sam Cane and hooker Dane Coles because of injury, weakening their forward pack.
Retallick received a red card in the 65th minute of New Zealand’s tense 38-31 victory in Tokyo after a dangerous clear-out of Japan back-rower Kazuki Himeno at a ruck.
“It was a fair hearing. I sat through it with him at 6.30am this morning. He’s got a great record; he’s played 99 Tests and never been red carded before. It was a tough experience for him but it is what it is,” All Blacks coach Ian Foster said.
“Our verdict is it was a pretty legitimate cleanout but he went too low and he hit the back of the neck so you have to accept that in the game. It was certainly good to hear they saw there was no intent to hurt, it was just technique he didn’t quite get right.
“As a coach you never see two weeks as good news but the nice thing for him is he’s available. He’s already telling me he’s going to pick himself for the English test so we’ll wait and see.”
If Retallick does successfully complete World Rugby’s head contact coaching intervention programme, he will then be clear to play his 100th Test in the All Blacks’ season finale against England.
The two sides haven’t face each other since Eddie Jones’ team defeated New Zealand 19-7 in the semifinals of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.