Of citing and suspending.

Quade Cooper of Australia picks up Morné Steyn of South Africa, tips his over and sends him headlong to ground.

The elements of a dangerous tackle of the tip type are there - grip, lift, twist and let down. In fact Cooper's right arm suggests a bit more than just letting Steyn down.

We dealt with the tip tackle in the previous club. There are just some aspects of this one that may be worthy of comment.

Firstly, the conversation between the referee and his assistant was excellent - succinct, compete and definite.

The second point concerns the nature of the suspension after the citings of both Jaque Fourie and Quade Cooper. There was upset in Australia and South Africa about the suspensions. Fourie was suspended for four weeks, Cooper for two. A suspended player has the right to lodge an appeal within 48 hours. Fourie did not appeal but Cooper did and the appeal was dismissed.

a. Citing has nothing to do with the teams. SANZAR, the body which organises the Tri-Nations and therefore the body responsible for this match, has appointed a citing commissioner in each of the three countries. For each match the citing commissioner will be independent but he will consult with the other two after the match and after gathering evidence from the broadcaster. The citing commissioner is not at the match.

b. When a player is cited the next step is an inquiry before a judicial officer. He, on his own, hears the case and decides on the suspension if there is to be one.

c. If a player appeals, an appeals committee made up of a member from each of the three countries hears the appeal.

None of these steps is instigated by the referee. His input and that of his assistants is solely as a witness.

The International Rugby Board has called for strict action against the tip tackle and has laid down a recommended tariff of suspensions with three weeks at the lower end.

The suspension is for weeks not matches.

Some South Africans were upset because =Fourie's suspension was twice as long as Cooper's though the tackle did not seem as forceful. The reason for that is that Fourie had been suspended for a similar offence in last year's Tri-Nations when he tipped Ma'a Nonu over. Just as a good record is a mitigating circumstance, so a poor record exacerbates the matter.

The Australians were upset because Cooper will miss two Tests while Fourie will miss only one, because of the nature of the fixtures. But the suspension is for weeks.

Players can avoid being punished for such a tackle if, after gripping and lifting their opponent, they let him down safely.