So where was Tomkins 3 match ban for a deliberate push on the referee before confronting him to berate him about 'getting in the way'

you cant have it both ways!

He never laid a hand on him. Stop making **** up.

When was this?

A few games ago (Saints on Good Friday maybe..?). A ref (can't remember who) was in the defensive line and Tomkins had to swerve around him to kick a ball dead.

Yeah he "got away" with a 3 match ban for a reckless challenge (which the RFL and any sane person could see was poorly timed/executed but not malicious)

Have the people comparing the Hock ban and this actually seen the two incidents? They're not remotely similar.

Personally I think Ablett is lucky not to have got a 1-2 match ban as it was dangerous. [uBUT[/u it didn't look premeditated - Manu's forearm was across Ablett's windpipe at the time (I'm not saying this was deliberate foul play before people jump in) - Ablett initially tries to push Manu in the face with an an open hand then when this doesn't work appears to scratch/grab at his face...I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and say it was an act of desperation

If someone was on my windpipe and I wanted them to get off, I'd be grabbing at the arm on the windpipe first.

RFL view of the incident...



[urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/disciplinary/item?3610[/url

/thread

:30h8rndb

Surely it depends on your body position relative to the arm [Edit.

And from a self defence point of view you'd be making a mistake - it's far more effective to go for the face than to try to out muscle an attacker (there's a natural reflex to pull away and protect the face...especially the eyes)...of course in a rugby match it's not quite the same!!!

How can he have his arm locked yet scratch at his eyes?!
If they're talking about the other arm, surely that's holding the ball and it would be poor to try anything with that invade he loses it?! Seems a strange thing to write in the disciplinary!


But this isn't self defence in the street, it's a rugby match as you say. Attempting to scratch at your opponents eyes isn't an acceptable defence. It's like says "he put an arm in my face do I bit it" is OK.

He scratches, and then open palms him in the head because he got roughed up in the tackle, and yet gets nothing. In fact, he got rewarded a penalty. What sort of message does that send out?