Monday, June 09, 2008
Epi Taione does it again - yellow card vs NZ Maori
Taione will miss Tonga's Pacific Nations Cup matches against Japan and Australia A.
He was initially yellow carded for a high tackle on New Zealand Maori No 8 Thomas Waldrom in the 67th minute of the match, won by the hosts 20-9 at North Harbour Stadium.
IRB judicial officer Chris Morris reviewed footage of the incident before handing down his judgement at a hearing in Auckland on Sunday.
Taione will however be available for Tonga's last two Pacific Nations Cup matches, against Samoa and Fiji.
Waldrom, who was dazed after being hit in the throat area, was expected to be available for the Maori side's next match in Fiji on Saturday.
This isn't the first time we've seen Taione lose his head, and attempt to take off someone else's. He was suspended for six weeks during the Super 14 for a headbutt while playing for the Sharks.
He's supposed to be a highly valuable asset to a team, what with his powerful running and supposed excellent hands. At this stage though, he's looking more like a liability whenever he takes to the park.
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Epi Taione headbutt disgrace against the Hurricanes
Epi Taione headbutt disgrace against the Hurricanes
Posted at 9:00 pm | 23 comments
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Viewing 23 comments
bD June 09, 2008 7:56 pm
nevermind loosing the head for the sharks...what about loosing the MATCH for them gainst the tahs in the semi???an aggressive and poor ball handler...AJ should have played instead of him >:(...
MrClutchCLEVERismyhe June 09, 2008 9:02 pm
^^^ agree to the fullest! the damn guy needs to go back to school boy rugby and start his career over, maybe hell learn a little something about his attitude and skill.
boomshanka June 10, 2008 12:24 am
yeah, had a shocker for Sharks in the semi - not completely his fault tho'.Impressive he can make the move from open-side to centre ...
Chazza June 10, 2008 3:57 am
Ouch straight up and around the neck, and he isnt a small guy either.GO THE TAHS for all you Neysayers
Shaft June 10, 2008 10:25 am
Repeat offender. I'm sure the people he's smashing are nice guys off the field too. It really isn't that difficult to avoid head butting and high tackling people.
nick June 10, 2008 12:33 pm
awwww c'mon! it wasn't THAT bad i've seen a hell of alot worse then THAT , i hope rugby doesn't go soft!!!!!
Rich W June 10, 2008 5:38 pm
Never a red card, think the commentators got a bit carried away. Had this been a player without Taione's reputation there wouldnt have been much of a fuss. Reckless high tackle, yellow card, end of.
Rancid June 10, 2008 5:44 pm
Not sure. I agree it was a yellow for foolishness.But for some reason i want to give him the benefit of the doubt and say there was little malicious in it... He seemed to let his arms flop.I mean, it wasn't like a stiff-clothesline like we often see. More stupid and misjudged i'd say.But the guy is a thuggish type player from other videos i've seen, so it wouldn't surprise me if he did go in with the sole purpose of going hige
joey June 10, 2008 9:31 pm
wasn't that bad. penalty and a talking to but wasn't a stiff arm and wasn't malicious. southern hemisphere refs in particular seem to trying to stop big hits going in. just because something looks like it hurts doesn't make it illegal. it's not tiddly-winks.
cheech June 11, 2008 9:08 am
The guy jumped round the guys head.Malicious or not.... whether he is a nice guy or not... whether it hurt or not... it was illegal. I have to agree that a red card would have been harsh but a yellow was the right call. Rugby is a game that hurts as it is (even when played correctly). Lets not get soft, lets just get the basics right.
JS June 11, 2008 12:06 pm
...........The number 8 is a big guy, its not as if he ducked into that tackle, Taione jumped up to get him high...it is blatantly a high and malicious tackle. Looking at it again (right now) i cant see how that tackle was goin to go anyway different, so either he did some damage to his own brain when he gave that headbutt or he had something else planned, but i cant for the life of me see what!
Anonymous June 12, 2008 6:17 pm
Hope rugby doesnt go soft??? are you for real??as rugged as the sport might be their is still no place for that sort of stupidity.Epi should be given a months ban to have him look at himself again,a consistent all round discipline case for club and country.......shame on you.
afiqrayyan June 13, 2008 9:24 am
Stupid but imo,epitomises one part of the game. BRUTAL AGRESSION.I'm sorry if u think i'm immature,heck i'm only 16 and i'm a forward."Y waste time passing the ball finding gaps when you can just take the ball and smash a gap out of someone?"-at least thats what i go by
Anonymous April 10, 2009 12:26 pm
You are all over reacting. Yellow maybe, but a warning would have been better in truth. One Tongan took him low, Taione took him a tad high. No biggy. Play the game.
Poio Humano November 20, 2009 12:10 pm
Lads: I came from a country where there are no rugby culture at all - Portugal - but i have no doubt - RED CARD! This kind of attitudes can send you directly to a wheel chair. May God bless you all, Rugby Players.
Rod
Rod
pete November 21, 2009 1:16 pm
haha epi at it again crazy tackle straight red card no dowt about it reff!!!
i remember when he played for the newcastle falcons he punched oliver azam in the face then azam called him racist names didnt azam regret that taione spend 10weeks band for knocking 10 gallans of sh*t into him funnerly enough azam never played in the next game against the falcons he was out with 'flu'
i remember when he played for the newcastle falcons he punched oliver azam in the face then azam called him racist names didnt azam regret that taione spend 10weeks band for knocking 10 gallans of sh*t into him funnerly enough azam never played in the next game against the falcons he was out with 'flu'
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