Spear-tackle decision due today

A DECISION on whether or not Ma’a Nonu will be punished for a spear-tackle on Gordon D’Arcy will be made this afternoon.

Scottish based Citing Commissioner Douglas Hunter had 48 hours to investigate complaints or to carry out his own investigations in the absence of complaints from either team.

Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan made no official complaint but said spear tackles had no place in the game and suggested the problem had to be addressed. His New Zealand counterpart Graham Henry agreed and referred to the incident by saying: “I’m disappointed it happened. We don’t want to see things like this and the player concerned has been spoken to.”

It was also suggested that Shane Horgan was involved in a similar incident later in the game when he tackled flanker Sione Lauaki. Henry said he had no recollection of that incident.

“What I’m saying is that I don’t accept that the spear tackle has a place in the game; we have knowledge of one incident but we let the referee adjudicate on it.”

Meanwhile the IRFU is “more than hopeful” that the North Terrace of Lansdowne Road, which was closed Saturday, will be open for next weekend’s clash with Australia.

An IRFU spokesperson explained yesterday that the relevant authorities will complete their report early this week on the fire which closed the terrace.

“The cause of the fire will be addressed in the report,” said the spokesperson. “There was no damage visible on the terrace but a decision was taken to close it off as a safety precaution. There were no cracks visible on the terrace, but that’s not to say that there wasn’t some structural damage. Once there was any element of doubt there was no way the IRFU could sign off on opening the terrace.

“However, we’re more than hopeful the terrace will be open for next weekend, subject to the report being signed off by the authorities.”

Around 7,500 fans, including hundreds of New Zealanders, were not allowed into Lansdowne Road after the fire on Friday night, which broke out in the space beneath the north terrace. The terrace was closed for a full safety inspection, and given the timeframe involved, the inspection could not be undertaken in order to get clearance to open the terrace in time. Terrace ticket holders have been offered a full refund.