In the first minute of the game, Hore appeared to strike Wales lock Davies from behind with a swing forearm, sending the player crashing to the ground where he needed to receive treatment before being taken to hospital.
Davies has been left with concussion that rules him out of Wales’ final Test against Australia this weekend. Hore’s initial eight-week ban for a professional offense was reduced by the RFU after it accepted Hore’s claim that he hadn’t intentionally hit Davies.
A Six Nations Rugby statement says of the incident: ‘The judicial officer [Professor Lorne Crerar] held that the act of foul play was inherently dangerous, being a deliberate swinging of the arm, delivered with significant force, causing serious injury to the victim player, Bradley Davies, who was unsighted.
‘However, the judicial officer found that the player had not intended to make contact with the victim player’s head.
Response to the incident from the media and pundits ranged from calling Hore a coward to calling for him to face criminal charges for the assault.
Particularly gauling for Wales fans is that the practical upshot of the five week ban is that Hore will only miss two competitive games for the All Blacks.
Hore has been in daily contact with Davies since the incident, and this was taken into account when his ban was decided.
The ban has caused incredulity amongst fans who have labelled it a ‘joke’ and a ‘disgrace’ with many citing it as an example of perceived preferential treatment given to the All Blacks.
Photo: Getty.
