UAR to Appeal Pablo Matera’s Two-Week Suspension

The UAR is to appeal Pablo Matera’s two-Week suspension. The Jaguares flanker and skipper was cited by SANZAAR for foul play in Los Jaguares 20-10 defeat against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

The outcome of the hearing is today means that Matera is officially out of the Super Rugby Quarter Final against the Lions as well as the potential Semi Final.

SANZAAR adjudged the contact made by Matera on Ruan Botha in clearing a ruck in the 18th minute to be above the red card threshold and thereby handed the flanker a suspension.

Matera has no serious prior disciplinary record which ought to help his cause. In addition Botha was able to play on in the match normal following the incident. Last month French winger Remy Grosso suffered a fractured skull after All Black Ofa Tu’ungafasi made full contact with his shoulder hitting Grosso’s head. Grosso may never play rugby again yet the incident was not sanctioned.

The UAR is to appeal Pablo Matera’s two-week suspension tomorrow. Jaguares Head Coach Mario Ledesma was surprised at the suspension, telling ESPN Scrum that it was a normal clearance, the same that happens continuously throughout games.

Ledesma also mentioned the red card handed to Ed Quirk of the Sunwolves by New Zealand referee Paul O’Keefe this past weekend. The Jaguares’ coach discussed the decision, noting it to have never been worthy of a red card.

He went on to say there seems to be different criteria for Los Jaguares and the Sunwolves than for the founding union franchises from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Reference was made to the recent Bulls vs Jaguares match. He notes two plays from the Bulls against his side that were not sanctioned which were of the same severity as Matera against the Sharks.

Los Jaguares are preparing for the Lions without Matera. On Monday Matera trained normal at flanker. he did so in a back-row with Tomás Lezana and Javier Ortega Desio. Regular flanker Marcos Kremer joined Guido Petti in the second-row.

With Matera unavailable for today’s training Kremer returned to flanker and Matias Alemanno partnered Petti in locking the scrum. Tomás Lavanini and Juan Manuel Leguizamón are looming as the match day replacements.

On Sunday Javier Díaz returned home to Argentina. The Tucumán Loose head prop suffered knee ligament damage and is likely to be ruled out for the remainder of the year. He joins Tight Head prop Enrique Pieretto on the sidelines.

Additional concerns ahead of the Quarter Final against the Lions surround Ramiro Moyano. The Tucumán winger was unable to complete training with the team earlier today. Sebastián Cancelliere will replace him if required.