Wallabies lock Miles Amatosero has been banned for three weeks after being found guilty of dangerous play from SANZAAR’s judiciary panel.
The NSW Waratahs firebrand was given an on-field yellow card in Australia’s 35-32 win over Japan in Osaka, which was then upgraded to red by the TMO.
The foul play review committee found Amatosero guilty of “dangerous play for a contrary charge into a ruck or maul.”
Japan captain Warner Dearns played on after the high cleanout and scored the last try of the match.
“The FPRC determined that the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks/matches,” the committee found.
“In light of Amatosero’s admission that he committed an act of foul play, along with mitigating factors such as his disciplinary history, experience, and remorse, the FPRC imposed a reduction of three weeks on the sanction.”
Amatosero’s disciplinary history includes being banned by the Waratahs for breaking teammate Angus Scott-Young’s cheekbone in a pre-season training punch up in January.
His ban will almost certainly mean he misses just one Test, against Japan in Townsville on Saturday.
The second match of his suspension is listed as Gordon’s Shute Shield fixture on August 22 while he was given permission to apply to take part in World Rugby’s ‘coaching intervention programme’ as a substitute for the final game.
Jeremy Williams is likely to start in his place in Townsville with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto primed for a recall on the bench.
“Maybe he could have controlled that a bit more, I don’t know,” Wallabies coach Les Kiss said of the cleanout.
“But ultimately, look, he’s upset in there. I won’t say too much more about it.”