Rugby Update: New Zealand will fight for Mealamu, Registered appeal against his ban.
New Zealand has registered the appeal against hooker Keven Mealamu’s ban of 4 weeks. New Zealand is not satisfied with the decision of panel, which was made by International Rugby Board for this case. The panel banned Mealamu from playing international rugby
for 4 weeks last Tuesday.
He was the protagonist in the clash between him and England’s captain Lewis Moody. This ban means that Mealamu will be missing the remaining whole tour of British Isles.
New Zealand’s assistant coach Steve Hansen said, they believe that Mealamu’s ban is a bumpy treatment with Mealamu and Hansen confirmed to media that yes they will fight for Mealamu’s ban. A panel from International rugby Board will pay attention to the
case again on Friday.
"We'll go to the death on this case," said the coach Steve Hansen, confirming that an appeal had been lodged.
"We're defending a guy whose character has been questioned when it shouldn't have been. He's a one-off, special person who hasn't got a dirty bone in his body. The guys are gutted that he can't play and, more importantly, gutted for Keven because of the
man he is. Everyone knows it's not in his nature to do that: he's not a dirty player, and never has been. If he says he didn't do it, he didn't do it."
Early there was news that Mealamu would be ban for 8 weeks time but he ran away because he has very good disciplinary record through-out his career.
Mealamu also showed his frustration on the decision and said the result doesn’t mean that he is this sort type of person. He played 100 super games matches and 82 tests matches but never had any complain against him.
New Zealand’s head coach Graham Henry also came in to party and said Mealamu is not that type of player; he is the cleanest player in the world of rugby.
According to panel, Mealamu holed Moody from his collar and then dived forward to butt Moody’s head.
Mealamu’s defenders said that Mealamu holed Moody from shoulder not from collar or head. But defenders have to come-up with solid points to win the case of their star player.
If Mealamu’s appeal fails then he will be out from rugby until 4th of next month and he will miss the All Blacks’ matches against Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Most likely Hiki Elliot will make his debut for New Zealand as the replacement of Mealamu.
New Zealand has Andrew h**e with them in their squad as well but he is lacking match practice, as he was out from rugby due to a shoulder injury.
But missing Mealamu in the remaining British Isles tour is the biggest set-back for All Blacks as he is their number 1 hooker and his depart from team will disturb their combination. Hansen Admits, Mealamu’s ban has affected the morale of their team.
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