Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has defended flanker Pablo Matera, after the Argentinian star appeared to escape lightly from a dangerous tackle against the Queensland Reds on Friday.
Matera was dealt a yellow card in the 55th minute of the Crusaders' 28-15 win over the Reds, when he lifted Jordan Petaia in a ruck cleanout and dropped him almost directly on his head.
Referee Ben O'Keeffe deemed the incident only worthy of a yellow card, despite - and arguably less reckless - tackles having earned red cards so far this season.
If Matera is cited to face the judiciary and is found guilty, he'll receive a three-week ban that would rule him out of the playoffs, meaning the Pumas stand-out may have played his final match for the Crusaders.
He's only signed a one-year deal with the Christchurch-based franchise and is yet to decide on his plans beyond this season.
Having locked up second place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, the Crusaders will again host the Reds in next weekend's quarter-final.
Reflecting on the incident, Robertson insisted Matera tried to adjust mid-air to prevent Petaia hitting the ground at an even more perilous angle.
"[Matera] tried to stop and you knew when he got to that point, he didn't go through with it which was probably a saviour for him,'' Robertson said.
"It is taken out of his hands, now, in a lot of ways. That moment. He is in such a rich vein of form, and he has been so good for us.
"Hopefully that's just it, it has just happened on the field.''
Matera has been a revelation for the Crusaders this season and a ban would be a bitter way to draw the curtain on a superb rookie Super Rugby campaign.
Reds coach Brad Thorn - who played 92 games for the Crusaders and was a key piece of their 2008 title-winning side - declined to comment on the tackle.
If Matera were to be ruled out beyond this weekend, Robertson said he'd bring Ethan Blackadder across to the blindside and call in Tom Christie to start at openside.
As for the game itself, Robertson wasn't concerned with a sloppy second half that saw their 21-3 lead at the interval dwindle.
"If we did a couple of things a little bit better, and maybe have had a couple of held-ups turn the other way, maybe it could have been a different score,'' he said.
He expected to have both late injury scratch Bryn Hall and wing Sevu Reece - who left the field with a head knock - available for selection next weekend, saying the All Blacks wing was "fine" after the match.
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