Blues coach Leon MacDonald has stopped short of condemning the red card handed to star winger Caleb Clarke against Moana Pasifika, but has questioned whether suspension is appropriate for the dangerous contact charge he now faces.
For the second time in four days, the Blues were forced to play shorthanded for 20 minutes of the second half against the competition newcomers, after Clarke was sent off for making contract with the head of rival Tomasi Alosio.
As the Moana Pasifika winger put a kick ahead down the right touchline, Clarke lept to charge the kick down, but realised mid-flight that he was about to collide with his counterpart and tried to bail out. Both players landed heavily and Alosio had to be helped off, with possible concussion.
After several moments' review and deliberation, referee James Doleman deemed Clarke's challenge "reckless" with contact to the head and pointed him to the sideline, where the Blues star made a point of checking on Alosio's health.
Reduced to 14 men for 20 minutes, the Blues held their opponents scoreless and drove hooker Kurt Eklund over for his third try of the night, en route to a comprehensive 46-16 victory, but now MacDonald must ponder the likelihood that Clarke will cop a hefty suspension.
After making head contact in the teams' midweek fixture, also won by the Blues, All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala was banned for three weeks, but his offence was more clearcut than Clarke's.
You could probably build an equally compelling case for Alosio colliding with Clarke while he was in the air and unable to change direction.
"I haven't seen that happen before and I've watched a lot of rugby," said MacDonald. "Whether it's just one of those moments or whether it's something new, I'm not sure.
"We'll just seek some clarification and see what we can do in terms of controlling that better."
MacDonald suggested a better call might have been a no-call, with neither player being punished beyond a penalty.
"Rugby is quite dynamic and things do happen. I feel sorry for Caleb, because there's no malice in it... he's genuinely trying to charge the ball down and here he is on the sidelines.
"It's a tough call and I'm not disagreeing with the call. There is a safety element there and the referee's hands were tied, but I'm not sure what to say to Caleb - I don't think it was reckless and it was just unfortunate."
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