By 3 News online staff
Adam Thomson and All Blacks’ coach Steve Hansen are happy men today with the news that Thomson will receive only a one-week suspension.
The flanker faced a rugby judiciary for an alleged ‘stamp’ on Alasdair Strokosch's head in the match against Scotland at Murrayfield on the weekend.
Hansen maintained in the lead up to the judiciary that Thomson’s actions were wrong, but not deliberate and it was rucking, as opposed to a stamp.
In the decision – which IRB regulations state a lower end suspension of two weeks and a top end of up to nine week – it was ruled that Thomson showed no malicious intent.
Thomson was yellow-carded for the offence during the 51-22 win, but was also cited.
Considering Hansen's earlier statement of rest and rotation to give all 32 players game time in the first two tests, it's likely that Thomson would have been on the bench or rested anyway for the match in Rome. But the ruling takes any doubt away, and means that Thomson is not available for the Italy test.
Liam Messam or Victor Vito are the likely candidates to fill the spot.
Thomson will be free to play in the All Blacks' tour-ending matches against Wales and England if selected.
3 Newssource: newshub archive
