Taniela Tupou escapes Super Rugby ban over tackle

Reds prop Taniela Tupou has escaped with an official warning for a late tackle in the Super Rugby loss to the Stormers.

Reds prop Taniela Tupou has avoided suspension

Queensland Reds and Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou has escaped with an official warning for a late tackle in the Super Rugby loss to the Stormers.

Tupou fronted a SANZAAR Judicial Committee over his tackle on Stormers winger Craig Barry in the eighth minute of the match in Cape Town.

He had been charged with contravening law 9.13: “A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously”, but was ultimately found guilty of breaking Law 9.11 — “Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others”. However, the panel deemed his tackle fell short of the red card threshold required for a suspension.

The outcome was welcome news for Queensland who have had captain Scott Higginbotham and fellow Wallabies forward Lukhan Tui sidelined through suspensions this season.

The Reds have a bye this weekend before taking on the Brumbies in Canberra on April 7.

Meanwhile, the Melbourne Rebels have made three changes to the team’s starting line-up to take on the Hurricanes in their Good Friday clash at AAMI Park.

Flanker Lopeti Timani, lock Matt Phillip and utility back Tom English return to the starting line-up, replacing Colby Fainga’a, Geoff Parling and winger Sefa Naivalu from the team that trounced the Sharks last round.

Wallaby prop Ben Daley has returned to the Rebels’ bench after overcoming a concussion injury suffered against the Waratahs, while Wallaby hooker Jordan Uelese is also included on the bench in place of Mahe Vailanu.

Backrower Ross Haylett-Petty also returns to the bench but his Wallabies fullback brother, Dane, was again left out with lingering symptoms from his head knock against NSW.

Rebels: Jack Maddocks, Tom English, Reece Hodge, Billy Meakes, Marika Koroibete, Jack Debreczeni, Will Genia, Amanaki Mafi, Angus Cottrell, Lopeti Timani, Adam Coleman (capt), Matt Philip, Jermaine Ainsley, Anaru Rangi, Tetera Faulkner. Res: Jordan Uelese, Ben Daley, Sam Talakai, Ross Haylett-Petty, Colby Fainga’a, Richard Hardwick, Michael Ruru, Sefa Naivalu.

AAP