Ed Quirk cops two-match suspension for ‘love tap’, Caleb Timu handed same ban

[logitech]

THE “love tap” send-off that was branded a joke by players, past and present, has been compounded by a two-week ban on Sunwolves culprit Ed Quirk.

Flanker Quirk’s clenched fist brushed the side of Hamish Stewart’s face without the force to bruise a pea when Kiwi ref Ben O’Keeffe intervened against the Reds last Friday night.

Former internationals Stefan Terblanche and John Langford sat on the Foul Play Review Panel which dealt the penalty for Quirk striking the head of an opponent.

Even opposition coach Brad Thorn branded it a “love tap” and openly questioned “where the game is going” by punishing “a little rub in the face.”

Reds backrower Caleb Timu also copped a two-week ban for reckless foul play for torpedoing into Sunwolves flyhalf Hayden Parker on the ground with a clumsy shoulder.

Timu’s ban rules him out of Souths’ club games against Sunnybank and University which the Magpies must win to make the August 5 semi-finals when he would be a weapon.

SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said yesterday that the regular season review would examine “some challenges within the officiating processes.”

“A major concern for us at present is the practical implementation of the Television Match Official (TMO) protocols. The protocols are clearly not working and a specific review is required in this area,” Marinos said.

“SANZAAR believes the appointed referee needs to remain the key decision maker on the field and that TMO interventions only provide context to the match officials’ decision making. We need better consistency in the application of the protocols and most would agree that perhaps this is not the case.”

* Melbourne Rebels No.8 Amanaki Mafi was yesterday freed on bail by a New Zealand judge but can’t go anywhere near teammate Lopeti Timani after being arrested following a fight between the pair in Dunedin.

It’s understood the Rebels pair were the only players still present in a pub in South Dunedin when they exchanged blows following an argument last Saturday.