All Blacks prop Tu’ungafasi banned 3 matches for high tackle
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — All Blacks prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi has been suspended for three matches after being red carded for a high tackle in New Zealand's 24-22 loss to Australia last Saturday night.
The ban, announced Wednesday, rules him out of the remainder of the Tri-Nations series in Australia and out of rugby until February.
Tu’ungafasi was sent off following a review by the Television Match Official of his hit on Australian winger Tom Wright in the first half.
Australian flanker Lachie Swinton, who was sent off before halftime for a high shoulder charge on All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock, was earlier in the week banned for four matches.
World Rugby has been clamping down on tackles where contact is to the head, even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.
The brutal Bledisloe Cup contest in Brisbane contained two red cards and another yellow card for each team.
New Zealand's next match is against Argentina in Sydney on Saturday.
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