Friend has sympathy for Aki over harsh red card against England

BY JOHN FALLON

Connacht coach Andy Friend said that Bundee Aki will be a loss to them when they take on Leicester Tigers in the European Challenge Cup on Saturday week and that he has huge sympathy for him being handed a red card against England.

Aki, who has become the first Irish player to be sent off twice in Test rugby having been dismissed against Samoa in the World Cup, has been handed a four-match ban for a high tackle on Billy Vunipola on Saturday.

Connacht will also be without suspended skipper Jarrad Butler for the trip to Leicester after he was given a three-match ban for a high tackle against Edinburgh.

But with Scarlets prop Pietz Scholtz escaping with just a yellow card for an elbow to John Porch’s chin in the opening half of Connacht’s 41-36 loss in Llanelli on Monday night, Friend said the lack of consistency in applying the law is frustrating during the crackdown on high tackles.

“It is frustrating because there are inconsistencies there and that’s the bit that hurts you. All you want is to make sure that there is consistency across the board.

“I thought it was pretty obvious we saw an elbow to the throat which went up into the face [Scholtz’s tackle on Porch] but it was deemed different, so all we can ask for as coaches and players is consistency with these.”

Friend said that he felt Aki’s tackle on Vunipola was harsh.

“I do have an issue with it. Look, to the letter of the law it was a red card because there was shoulder to the head. I’m not sure what else Bundee could have done?

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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