Landman:s appeal thrown out and he gets to pay costs...see Pro12 can get things right...

Pro12 Disciplinary Committee wrote: Disciplinary Update - Rynard Landman
For immediate release: Wednesday 18 March 2015
Issued on behalf of GUINNESS PRO12 Rugby

An appeal by Rynard Landman, the Newport Gwent Dragons lock forward and captain, was heard today by an independent PRO12 Rugby Appeal Committee, chaired by Pat Barriscale (Ireland), along with Nick Dark (England). The player had originally been red-carded for striking an opponent with his elbow in the Guinness PRO12 match between Newport Gwent Dragons and Connacht on 22 February 2015.

At the initial hearing before an independent PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee, the player received a six week suspension, ending at midnight on Sunday, 19 April 2015 (having taken account of two "down” weeks in which the player did not have a scheduled match).

The player's appeal was based on two grounds, confined to the question of sanction (i.e. that the Disciplinary Committee had erred in determining that the offending warranted a top end entry point of nine weeks and again in reducing the entry point suspension by just three weeks to take account of mitigating factors) . The Appeal Committee, having received submissions on behalf of the player and the PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Officer, both in advance of and at the hearing, dismissed the appeal in its entirety. The Appeal Committee found that the Disciplinary Committee had not made the errors that the player had alleged. The player's suspension remains as it was originally imposed.

The Appeal Committee ordered the player to pay the costs of convening the hearing and the legal costs incurred by the Disciplinary Officer in responding to the appeal.

www.newportgwentdragons.com/News/Article/38748

"The Committee found that Rynard Landman had committed an act of foul play for which he had received the red card and considered it to be at the high end of World Rugby's sanctions for this type of offence, which carries an entry-point of nine weeks.

The Committee considered the aggravating and mitigating factors including the player's unblemished record, and reduced the entry point by three weeks and imposed a six week suspension.

Landman is suspended from playing until midnight on Sunday 19 April 2015."

Elbow to the head, 9 weeks feels light, but hopefully the twiiter statement knocked off a couple of weeks for him!!!

The beeb reported he had been cited but no updates on the result. He hasn't been named in the dragons 23 for the weekend but there's no reason given in the pro12 article for that decision. So I haven't a clue tbh!

Was Landman cited for the elbow on Carty? Haven't seen anything else about this, thought he would be.

clanman wrote: also the latest craggy island podcast is available on Soundcloud

also conveniently located on the front page of this site

also the latest craggy island podcast is available on Soundcloud

March review by Rob Murphy is up
connachtclan.com/news/73-match-review/388-dragons-outnumbered

menacethedenis wrote: Carty’s a liability as far as I’m concerned. For every decent thing he does he’ll do three or four that put us under pressure. His place-kicking is patchy to put it mildly. His kicking from hand is infuriatingly unpredictable and often aimless, and he is consistently unable to bring an incredibly talented backline into a game. Marmion usually does it for him. There’s no doubt Jack has ability and I’m sure you could make an impressive youtube clip from his better moments but for all the frontline exposure this season I don’t think he has improved much from when he was playing for the Eagles. He is young and needs time to develop but meanwhile the team is suffering. The only reason he’s playing regularly now is because we have no other option in what is the pivotal position on the pitch. Ronaldson’s had injury problems and frankly looks better at centre. Miah has been solid for us but he’s never nailed down the jersey. I sincerely hope Lam is hounding his contacts to try and get us someone for next season as our dearth of talent at out-half has hamstrung us all season. This team is going nowhere without a ten who can kick to relieve pressure, take his points and run a game. Easier said than done I know but I’d even settle for 2 out of those 3 attributes!

My two areas of concern for Jack are physicality and composure. He seems to get thrown too much when teams play a ruish defence and reverts to kicking the ball away. He's still very young and perhaps he still really needs guidance from a Eric/Dan type which we just don't have at the moment for that most specific of roles. I'm sure Mils can afford him very useful general play guidance, but there is nothing like a Ten who has been there and done that. Of course he could very well be doing loads of work off his own back with Eric already, I'd sincerly hope that he does. Eric is one of the top five or six tens that Ireland has produced in the last thirty years...

The above chain of comments has been removed. Anyone is entitled to criticise a player performance on the pitch on this forum (as Denis has above), but unsubstantiated remarks about what a player does or doesn't do behind the scenes or in their personal life is unfair both to the player himself and this community. Believe it or not many of the players and their families frequent this forum, and this kind of thing reflects badly on us as a supporters club in their eyes.

Carty’s a liability as far as I’m concerned. For every decent thing he does he’ll do three or four that put us under pressure. His place-kicking is patchy to put it mildly. His kicking from hand is infuriatingly unpredictable and often aimless, and he is consistently unable to bring an incredibly talented backline into a game. Marmion usually does it for him. There’s no doubt Jack has ability and I’m sure you could make an impressive youtube clip from his better moments but for all the frontline exposure this season I don’t think he has improved much from when he was playing for the Eagles. He is young and needs time to develop but meanwhile the team is suffering. The only reason he’s playing regularly now is because we have no other option in what is the pivotal position on the pitch. Ronaldson’s had injury problems and frankly looks better at centre. Miah has been solid for us but he’s never nailed down the jersey. I sincerely hope Lam is hounding his contacts to try and get us someone for next season as our dearth of talent at out-half has hamstrung us all season. This team is going nowhere without a ten who can kick to relieve pressure, take his points and run a game. Easier said than done I know but I’d even settle for 2 out of those 3 attributes!

his place kicking is my biggest concern for Carty. It isn't getting any better and is an indicator of a players ability to deal with pressure imo. I say that because I've seen him kicking for buccs and eagles and he has generally done better.

I'm a fan of Jack but I feel that the time is right to give Craig a few games at 10. Craig's confidence will be high after his try yesterday- on the contrary Jack's will be low after the few mistakes he made in the past few games. I would also accept the the weather was not conducive to Jack's style of play. He is a very brave player and has a great future ahead of him. Was a bit surprised that Craig didn't take over the kicking duties after he came on but can have no complaints with Darragh's contribution on that score.

clanman wrote: i know we have valid reasons to be critical of Carty performances on the pitch but you can't argue with his determination and effort to improve. It's such a hard position to learn your trade that part of me wants to see him continue and we'll have to learn to deal with errors.

I'd stick with him at 10 as it's just to late to be changing to Ronaldson, i sometimes wonder if Leader could play 10.

I have no criticism of Carty for his efforts, I have never seen him hiding even with things going against him which is a big positive in his favour but the fact is its not happening for him at the moment. We are a bit caught in the centre at the moment which limits our options but while we will probably be ok against Treviso, can we afford to go away to Cardiff in a match we really must win with a player so devoid of confidence in such a crucial position.

If it was like previous seasons where there was little on offer coming into the closing stages of the season, there could be a strong argument for letting him try and find some form but I don't see how it can be too late to change when we have at least 8 games still to go in the season and all of them are likely to be important to some extent.

I don't think leaving him at 10 will help either the team or his own confidence. Ronaldson didn't inspire me at 10 yesterday either but did make a couple of important contributions. Carty got the bang to the head which must be taken account of but even in the opening couple of minutes he made some poor mistakes.

i know we have valid reasons to be critical of Carty performances on the pitch but you can't argue with his determination and effort to improve. It's such a hard position to learn your trade that part of me wants to see him continue and we'll have to learn to deal with errors.

I'd stick with him at 10 as it's just to late to be changing to Ronaldson, i sometimes wonder if Leader could play 10.

Still trying to give Carty the benefit of doubt, there was the weather and the elbow from Landman, but have to say I think Ronaldson needs to be given a run of games at 10 starting with the Treviso game. Again I think Pat may want to keep Craig in the centre, but maybe if he was as exasperated with Carty's play as ConnachtBOB overheard he will relent and start Ronaldson next time out.

Definitely would have been happy with the 4 points before the game started, but as it played out and Connacht had a man advantage for over an hour the manner of victory was wanting. A try bonus would have been a nice pick up and I know the Dragons are not the main threat for 6th ATM, but to allow them to get a LBP was disappointing. Almost feel as though Connacht would have been better off against a 15 man Dragons side. They lost some focus after going up 17-3 and the Dragons resolve was galvanised.

Considering their schedule any hope for a 6th place finish will require Connacht to win the next two games.

Agree Re: Rodney. Since he has come back from the Autumn Internationals he been very dissapointing
Had started the season in great form

Rossie I respect you for trying give the benefit of the doubt to Jack, but he already had a high number of errors before he took a blow to the head (again yes conditions were atrocious)... It is unfair on him to be our first choice 10. Don't have issue with him on bench and handy squad player but he not quite at the level of a starting Top 6 out half yet..