Try scoring machine Napolioni Nalaga saw red yesterday as he was sent off for an awful looking tackle on flyhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde. The loss of the player did nothing to help the Pacific Islanders as they went down 42-17 to the French at the Bonal Stadium. The unsavoury incident, which resulted in Elissalde being stretchered off unconscious, marred the match, but after the long delay for the treatment of Elissalde, the French then made their dominance show.
Referee Nigel Owens was in no doubt following the hit by Nalaga, sending the massive wing off and making his reasons very clear.
Often it's said that a ref's decision regarding a tackle shouldn't be determined by the outcome of it, but by the tackle itself. In this case though, Owen's only needed to take one look at the pint sized Elissalde to make up his mind.
"Jean-Baptiste was under medical supervision all night. It looks like everything is okay but we cannot take any chances. He has been seriously shaken up," coach Marc Lievremont said.
Young Julien Tomas, who scored a fantastic try for Montpellier this weekend, has been called up as replacement and will join the squad that will play Australia next weekend.
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Time: 02:52www.rugbydump.com
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