Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has lashed out at Chiefs second-five Johnny Fa'auli for a 'deliberate' no-arms tackle on Wes Goosen, which has left him in doubt for the Super Rugby playoffs.
Midway through the second half, Fa'auli was shown a straight red card for the high, no-arms tackle on Goosen - a hit so brutal it could be heard from the stands.
The Hurricanes tweeted their disgust at Johnny Fa'auli for his dangerous tackle on Wes Goosen - but later deleted the post.
The Chiefs went onto win the match 28-24, despite finishing the game with 14 men, which has ensured both teams will meet again next weekend.
The Hamilton-based franchise needed a bonus point win by a margin of 23 or more to get the hosting rights for the quarter-final, but as they only won by four points, the match will be played at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday night.
Boyd was disappointed his side didn't win the game, but was satisfied they did enough to secure a home playoff game.
However, he appeared more concerned for Goosen, who underwent two separate concussion tests when he left the field.
Speaking after the match, Boyd didn't hold back when asked about the Fa'auli incident.
"I mean, I don't like to see a red card in any game, but red is red, and you don't get a more obvious red card than that," he said.
"That was shoulder, no arms, straight to the head, with force, with intent. There's no butting out of any of that.
"So that was a deliberate act. The Chiefs will be disappointed with that action; I'm assuming the player will be disappointed with that action. And at the end of the day, he got, in the end, what was necessary."
Chiefs coach Colin Cooper came to the defence of his young midfielder, but admitted he was disappointed at Fa'auli's actions.
"It's disappointing," he said. "He's [Fa'auli] better than that. He looks to stamp his mark defensively, but he's got to do it within the rules, he just can't drift up, particularly towards the head."
Fa'auli will now face a judicial hearing for the incident, which would likely see him miss the remainder of the season.
Newshub.
