Davies incident earns Horefive-week ban

New Zealand hooker Andrew Hore has been banned for five weeks – but just two competitive matches – for striking Wales lock Bradley Davies.

Hore’s suspension rules him out of Saturday’s Test against England and it includes the first game of the Highlanders’ 2013 Super Rugby season on February 22.

But judicial officer Lorne Crerar has come under fire for including three pre-season matches in the ban after being convinced they “all had significant and meaningful consequences” for Hore.

Davies was knocked unconscious after he was hit from behind by Hore’s swinging arm, just 30 seconds into the All Blacks’ 33-10 win at the Millennium Stadium.

Professor Lorne Crerar deemed the incident to be “inherently dangerous” and a top-end offence but he accepted Hore had not intended to strike Davies in the head.

Crerar took into account a number of mitigating factors, including his daily contact with Davies.