The All Blacks face an anxious wait after Scott Barrett has been cited following his red card against South Africa at Twickenham Stadium.
Barrett will appear before an independent Judicial Committee on 28 August 2023 after his red card (for two yellow cards) during New Zealand’s 7-35 defeat to South Africa at Twickenham on Friday, World Rugby confirmed.
Barrett received his first yellow card in the 13th minute. He returned to the field for another 15 minutes before receiving his second yellow for a dangerous clean-out on Malcolm Marx.
Barrett is set to have contravened Law 9.8 (repeated team infringements) and 9.20(a) (charging into a ruck or maul).
The independent Judicial Committee will be chaired by James Dingemans (England), joined by former international Olly Kohn (Wales) and former referee Val Toma (Romania).
While recent bans handed to the likes of Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola were the result of single, red card-worthy offenses, namely contact to the head, Barrett’s card being the result of two yellows makes the disciplinary action more unpredictable.
Not helping Barrett’s case is a previous red card back in 2019, when the lock became just the fourth All Black to see red for a dangerous hit on Michael Hooper.
Should Barrett be suspended, New Zealand will be left with only two available locks – Sam Whitelock and Tupou Vaa’i – against France on September 8.
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