JOHANNESBURG – Good news for the Lions is that star flank Jaco Kriel has been cleared of foul play following a Sanzaar judicial hearing.
The energetic No 6 flank, who has been in stunning form for the Lions, pleaded not guilty to the charge of “late charging a player” in the Super Rugby match against the Stormers at Newlands last Saturday.
Kriel bumped into the face of Stormers flyhalf Robert du Preez after trying to charge down a clearance kick and was yellow-carded for the incident. He was later cited.
No further sanction has been imposed on Kriel and he will be available to play against the Jaguares this weekend, and for the tour to Australia starting next week.
The Lions face the Force, Rebels and Brumbies on tour.
In his finding, the judicial committee chairman André Oosthuizen ruled the following: “Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Frikkie Erasmus, the judicial committee concluded that the red card threshold had not been met to satisfy the citing, and that the on-field yellow card was sufficient.
“The judicial committee found that the player (Kriel) came into contact with the opposing flyhalf (Du Preez) in the course of the player attempting to charge down, that his action did not amount to an intentional late charge or obstruction and accordingly had not committed a transgression of Law 10.4(o).
“The player (Kriel) is therefore free to resume playing.”
Lions boss Johan Ackermann will name his team to face the Jaguares later on Wednesday.