Wallabies wing Marika Koroibete is free to play in the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship after escaping suspension for an alleged high tackle.
Koroibete fronted the World Rugby judicial committee last night to fight the dangerous tackle charge after being controversially shown a red card early in Australia's series-deciding Test win over France on Saturday night.
Koroibete was sent off after just five minutes of the first half but Wallabies coach Dave Rennie later claimed France captain Anthony Jelonch "terribly milked" the incident.
An independent panel chaired by New Zealand's Helen Morgan and supported by ex-players and now legal eagles Mike Mika and Chris Smith tended to agree, clearing Koroibete after considering all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from the player and his representative.
In a statement, SANZAAR stated Marika Koroibete admitted to technically committing an act of foul play worthy of a red card and having reviewed all the evidence, the committee deemed that Koroibete's tackle on French loose-forward Anthony Jelonch initially made shoulder to shoulder contact at the fifth minute of the game.
It says on that basis, the committee did not uphold the red card and the player is free to play again immediately.
Koroibete is now free to take on the All Blacks in the first match of the Bledisloe Cup series and Rugby Championship at Eden Park on August 7.
[Source: Stuff.co.nz]
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