Lifeimi Mafi banned for seven weeks
Munster centre player Lifeimi Mafi has been handed a seven week ban for a dangerous tackle on Leinster's Gordon D'Arcy.
Mafi was sent to the sin bin after 19 minutes of the Magners League defeat to Leinster. Mafi went in high on D'Arcy and the referee deemed that the Tongan born player had no intention of playing the ball.
"Having studied the match footage and heard all available evidence, the disciplinary panel found Mafi guilty under
law 10.4 (e) for a dangerous tackle and decided that it was at the top end of entry for such an offence," said an IRFU statement.
The decision is going to hit Munster hard over the next few weeks because Mafi is a key component of how the side plays. However, there is cover in his position.
A big blow
This is a big blow to the club because an important player is now forced out of the side. This could force the coach into a re-think on tactics, which could have an impact on
the results of the team. Mafi is used as a powerful figure in the middle of the team for everyone else to play around.
It also means that referees are going to be watching Munster's players a little more closely over the next few games. Although it was just a single player in this instance, there
is a good chance that referees will be looking for the first excuse to discipline Munster players.
There is cover in the central positions of the team. However, if Tom Gleeson or Barry Murphy pick up an injury then the squad is going to be stretched thin and this could mean
youth players coming into the first team.
"The panel took into account the player's previous good disciplinary record before they imposed a sanction of seven weeks' suspension, up to and including Sunday, November 21,"
added the statement.
Betting advice
A drastic change in Munster's tactics is going to be unlikely. The club has enough personnel to cope without Mafi for a few weeks. There's no reason to change regular betting
patterns with this side.
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