All Black pivot Dan Carter has been banned for one week after facing a judicial hearing in London on Tuesday for a high hit on replacement Welsh scrumhalf Martin Roberts in last weekend's 19-12 victory at the Millennium Stadium.

It was Carter's first hearing for foul play in his glittering professional career with the Crusaders and All Blacks.

He was represented by London-based lawyer Owen Eastwood and accompanied by All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen.

IRB judicial officer Jeff Blackett heard Carter's defence and did not take long to make a ruling in suspending the ace playmaker, which means he will miss the All Blacks' test against Italy at a sold-out San Siro this weekend. Ironically a match he was likely to have sat out anyway as the All Blacks' tour rotation policy kicks in.

A statement issued on behalf of the English official said: "Daniel Carter acknowledged responsibility, and had already apologised for, his high tackle on Martin Roberts, Wales's replacement scrumhalf.

"The sanction of one week reflected the low entry point in the IRB's table of sanctions for the offence, together with the maximum allowance for the mitigating factors involved."

Carter became the third All Black to be suspended on the current tour, after wing Sitiveni Sivivatu (dangerous tackle) and prop Tony Woodcock (striking) got one-match bans after the Tokyo test against the Wallabies.

Sivivatu and Woodcock are available for selection this week while Carter will be available to face England at Twickenham on November 21,

With Carter out this week, Bay of Plenty pivot Mike Delany is poised to make his All Blacks debut at the San Siro Stadium.

Delany is likely to get the nod ahead of Stephen Donald after an excellent Air NZ Cup for the Steamers. while Wellington centre Tamati Ellison and Otago wing Ben Smith are also in line for starting spots.

Cory Jane and props Wyatt Crockett and Neemia Tialata appears to be the only survivors in the starting XV from Cardiff.

Other returnees would be hooker Corey Flynn, locks Anthony Boric and Tom Donnelly, and a loose forward trio of Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam and Rodney So'oialo who appeared the most likely candidate to captain the side.

In the backs, scrumhalf Andy Ellis, Luke McAlister and Sivivatu would all return.

Several frontliners would probably come off the bench including regular skipper Richie McCaw, Andrew Hore, Jimmy Cowan and Mils Muliaina.

Join our Facebook fan page Follow us on Twitter

365

RSS
Digg
de.li.cious
facebook
LATEST FEATURES
Zimbabwe's finest Price (c) AFP Watching Ray Price in action is one of modern cricket's great sights, writes Dan Nicholl.
Tale of the captains On the eve of the South Africa-England series, Tim Human looks at the two captains.
Safa lacks leadership The lack of leadership at Safa is to blame for Bafana's demise on the international stage.