Laporte baffled by clearing of Italian prop

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte admitted yesterday that he was puzzled by the clearing of Italy prop Salvatore Perugini of a dangerous tackle on Christophe Dominici during last weekend’s Six Nations match.

A three-man disciplinary committee meeting in London on Wednesday cleared Perugini of a high tackle on Dominici in Saturday’s game in Rome which left the French player hospitalised with concussion.

Perugini allegedly drove into the French winger with a swinging arm. Dominici was stretchered off in a neck brace. But the citing was not upheld and the player was given the all clear to continue playing.