Israel Folau’s one-game suspension is a joke, and has exposed a dangerous flaw in the game

ISRAEL Folau has been let down by the game of rugby, with his one-game suspension for contesting a kick a joke, writes JIM TUCKER.

Israel Folau is shown a yellow card by referee Pascal Gauzere. Pic: Getty

IT’S not Israel Folau who has to lift his game but World Rugby, because a one-game ban for contesting a kick is a joke.

World Rugby clearly disagrees because a citing officer, a three-man panel and another three-man appeals panel have all reached the verdict there was a dangerous element to his action.

A hand on the chest of Irish skipper Peter O’Mahony did contribute to him toppling awkwardly in last weekend’s Test.

Ireland's Peter O'Mahony (C) and Australian Wallabies Israel Folau (top C) contest the ball. Pic: AFP

Whether it was just a side-effect of a fair contest-collision in the air, with dynamic bodies at real-time speed, is the issue — plus the responsibility of CJ Stander.

On the matter of lifting, Stander did too little to protect his captain in helping him back to earth.

O'Mahony landed awkwardly and missed the remainder of the game. Pic: Getty

Former Wallabies skipper George Gregan may be one of the great fence-sitters on controversies but he nailed it this time with his view on Fox Sports’ Kick & Chase show.

“It’s a contest. You are going to get your limbs and body intertwined... that’s the nature of it,” Gregan said.

Basically, World Rugby has greenlighted yellow cards if you don’t jump when there is a collision over a contestable kick and if you do.

We eagerly await consistency when the Wallabies and All Blacks go at it in August. Fingers crossed.

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Originally published as Israel Folau’s one-game suspension is a joke, and has exposed a dangerous flaw in the game