All Blacks lock and Crusaders captain Scott Barrett will miss the next month of Super Rugby Pacific, after he was suspended for four weeks on a day when two of his New Zealand colleagues also entered guilty pleas.
Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua and Highlanders lock Josh Dickson were both suspended for three weeks on Monday night, despite the six-Test rake suffering no on-field sanction during the Hurricanes' 22-21 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Dickson, meanwhile, had earlier been marched for a high tackle on Tevita Mafileo. The decision not to sanction Aumua at the time had incensed Highlanders skipper Aaron Smith, after Gareth Evans was forced to undergo an HIA having clearly also suffered a black eye from the collision.
While Aumua and Dickson both had their bans reduced on account of their good record, Barrett wasn't so fortunate given he was red-carded for a similar tackle on Wallabies captain Michael Hooper during the 2019 Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth.
Barrett may still apply to have the fourth week of his suspension wiped from the record, but only if he opts to complete the Head Contact
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.13," a SANZAAR judicial statement read.
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level.
"Taking into account mitigating factors including the player's acceptance of foul play, his expressed remorse and pleading guilty at the first available opportunity, the Judicial Committee reduced the suspension to 4 weeks. The player was not entitled to the full 50% reduction due to a prior similar offence.
"The player was informed of his ability to apply for the Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention. Any player who has a citing or red card upheld by a disciplinary panel for foul play involving the Head Contact Process may apply to have the final week of their sanction substituted by undertaking a coaching intervention that specifically addresses the technical tackle/contact technique-error that caused or contributed to the foul play. This intervention will be overseen by the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Expert Review Panel - a panel of expert independent coaches.
"The player is therefore suspended for 4 weeks, up to and including 13 May 2022."
Barrett will miss the Crusaders' games against the Rebels, Waratahs and Force, while his availability for the Round 13 match against the Brumbies will be determined by whether he completes World Rugby's Intervention program.
The decision not to sanction Aumua, meanwhile, shows that officials are still to fully align on what does- and does not- constitute foul play.
Highlanders captain Smith and his teammates can feel aggrieved that Aumua was not sanctioned but has since been suspended for three weeks, given the hosts would have played the final three minutes, when they were deep inside the Hurricanes' half, against 14 men if the Hurricanes hooker had been either yellow- or red-carded.
As it was, the TMO saw no reason to award even a penalty to the Highlanders.