Owen Farrell's eventual four-week ban for his dangerous tackle on Taine Basham is no cause for celebration as it merely highlights the disconnect in rugby's disciplinary process.
The fundamental difference between the initial verdict and the one after World Rugby's appeal illustrates that interpretation of what should be unambiguous application of rules is too liberal.
Last week, a Six Nations-facilitated independent judicial committee - made up of an all-Australian panel of Adam Casselden, John Langford and David Croft - ruled that the upgrading of Farrell's initial on-field yellow card to a red one - while the flyhalf was sitting in the sin bin - was flawed and should've stayed a 10-minute punishment.
"The failure to attempt to wrap was judged to be an important element of the foul play review officer's report and had led to an upgrading of the referee’s yellow card to a red card during the match," the Six Nations said in its statement on Tuesday night. Some observers have commented that a four-week ban for Farrell was the best possible outcome for him, given that the 31-year-old has thrice been suspended for illegal tackling at club level previously.Rather, the scarcely believable chasm between the initial verdict and the appeal highlights that the sport's group of judicial officers is too bloated and varied.
"You can't just set a time for a hearing and then expect a guy from Japan, for example, to sit in via video link at 02:00 in the morning."
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