News
Williams banned, Stanley reprieved
August 12 2009
Auckland full-back Paul Williams has been banned for a week for a late tackle on Dan Carter last Saturday.
Williams was cited for the incident, which occurred late in the match against Canterbury, but indicated in his defence that contact with Carter had been to avoid another Auckland player who was coming in for the tackle.
Judicial Officer Bruce Squire was less than impressed with that explanation, saying contact was made at an unacceptably high level and that the recklessness warranted a suspension.
Centre Benson Stanley appeared on a similar charge, this one for a late tackle on Ryan Crotty.
However, Squire found that the contact had been illegal but not malicious and withdrew the citing.