Stormers fume over Sandi suspension

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John Dobson says the DHL Stormers have been left “flabbergasted” over the three-game suspension handed down to young tighthead prop Sazi Sandi. DYLAN JACK reports.

Sandi was cited for his head-on-head collision with Edinburgh flank Jamie Ritchie, which resulted in a red card in the 74th minute of last Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash.

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The disciplinary panel overseeing the citing process determined that the offence warranted a mid-range entry point of a six-week suspension. However, Sandi’s good disciplinary record, early guilty plea, remorse and good conduct earned him a 50% mitigation, so he was banned for three weeks.

Nevertheless, this ruled the 24-year-old out of the Stormers’ three-game tour, where the Cape side will take on Zebre in Parma on Saturday before facing Ospreys and Cardiff in Wales.

“As a team, management and group of players, we were absolutely flabbergasted with the outcome,” Dobson told the media from Parma on Friday.

“I don’t think anybody is more aware in rugby about the concerns for their safety than the players. Believe it or not, they know when somebody has done a cheap shot or that sort of thing.

“To sanction a young kid like Sazi like that…you can ban for three weeks, fine, but it’s looking like an inconsistent product. I think we are losing players and the public with the inconsistency.

“The other thing that concerns me that is that he gets a three-week ban, but I don’t know what else he could have done. If a player leads with an elbow or something similar and gets a red card, then that’s understandable. That’s a player behaviour that can be changed.

“I’ve watched that Sazi Sandi clip about 100 times. He has dipped and I am not sure what else Sazi could have done. I am not sure what they are telling Sazi not to do. I really don’t understand that.

“A player should be treated with some dignity and respect through the process. I really feel for Sazi. We will take this up in our own way. We have had a few URC disciplinaries now, which we must try and stop.

“Sazi was brilliant when he came on last week. We are so excited about his future but we need to get him time in the saddle. So having him out for three weeks isn’t great, not for the team or Sazi’s development. He’s not coming here or to Wales, but we look forward to having him back.”

Dobson later in the conference confirmed that Sazi would be exercising the option to complete the Coaching Intervention Programme, to reduce the sanction by one week and make him available for the final match on tour against Cardiff on 22 October.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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Dylan Jack