He had been recruited to bring his experience to this kind of match.
But on Wednesday evening, Racing 92 learned that it should do without its Australian rear Kurtley Beale, who arrived this summer, for his Champions Cup quarter-final this Saturday in Clermont.
Author of a high tackle on Arthur Vincent against Montpellier on Friday, the 31-year-old player with 92 selections with Australia received a three-week suspension from the disciplinary committee of the National Rugby League (LNR).
A “scandalous” decision, in the eyes of the Ile-de-France president Jacky Lorenzetti.
“An injustice”, reacted initially to our colleagues from L'Equipe, the manager of Ciel et Blanc Laurent Travers.
Thursday noon, the latter announced that Racing 92 intended to appeal the sanction which for the moment deprives its flagship recruit of the summer of a potential European semi-final, scheduled for September 26.
"We ask ourselves questions," said the technician.
Is the sanction unfair?
Maybe not.
Is it consistent when compared to other gestures?
Maybe not.
"
"He does not understand"
If he did not want to take the plunge, its president drew a parallel with the case of the two players from Toulouse Stadium, Iosefa Tekori and Richie Arnold, expelled in the first match of the Top 14 season against Clermont and sanctioned by 'one week suspension.
This allows them to apply for their Champions Cup quarter-final against Ulster on Sunday.
"I would like to have explanations", breaths Laurent Travers, who points to the fact that Kurtley Beale "has never taken a red card in his entire career".
"He does not understand", underlines his manager.
The disciplinary commission, which could have suspended the player for six weeks, chose to revise the sanction downwards "in the absence of aggravating factors" and "after taking into account the mitigating circumstances (recognition of guilt, expression of remorse and clean disciplinary record) ”.
"The facts are there, we do not make the mourners", continues the coach of Ile-de-France.
But the latter knows that he starts with a first handicap in his quarter-final.
"He was starting to adapt to our playing systems, it's a big loss," regrets scrum half Maxime Machenaud.
