Kick costs Betsen six weeks ban

FRENCH flanker Serge Betsen was given a six week ban for kicking England scrum-half Matt Dawson in the head during their World Cup semi-final defeat on Sunday.

The International Rugby Board agreed yesterday that Betsen, sin-binned later during the match for a late tackle on England hero Jonny Wilkinson, was not guilty of a deliberate act but judged the kick imprudent.

France team manager Jo Maso said the incident took place as the players were pinned on the ground at the bottom of a ruck and Betsen was only trying to wriggle free.

Betsen was left out of the French side to play New Zealand in the match for third place today.

The Biarritz flanker has developed into a key member of the French pack with his ferocious tackling and non-stop work-rate and he got off to a great start in the semi-final against England scoring an opportunistic try in the opening minutes.

But as England cranked up the pressure Betsen was warned by New Zealand referee Paddy O’Brien for persistent offending at rucks and mauls and then followed the incident with Dawson.

Betsen was sent packing at a crucial moment of the game 10 minutes in the second half after a late tackle on Wilkinson.

Early in the tournament Scottish flanker Martin Leslie was cited for a similar incident and he was banned for 12 weeks, later reduced to eight weeks on appeal.