Surprised by the six-week ban handed to hooker Tolu Latu, NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson says it sends a message to Super Rugby players about SANZAAR's hard-line stance towards dangerous play.
Latu will miss four Australian conference derbies and a showdown with the defending champion Crusaders after being suspended from for six weeks.
The 26-year-old, who has 11 Wallabies caps, was cited for diving into a ruck late in the Tahs' clash with the Sunwolves in Tokyo, resulting in flanker Ed Quirk being stretchered off with a knee injury.
Latu fronted the three-man SANZAAR foul play review committee, which on Tuesday accepted his guilty plea to dangerous play.
The committee said it took into account the "vulnerability of the victim, the gravity of the offence and the extent of the injury caused to the victim".
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Gibson said they accepted the penalty, which was reduced from 10 weeks given the time since Latu's last offence, and his remorse.
But the coach said the length of the ban took him by surprise.
"Naturally we are disappointed to lose him from the squad this early in the season," Gibson said.
"While I was somewhat surprised at the duration of the suspension, it puts all players and teams on notice about what SANZAAR consider to be dangerous play and the hard line stance they are taking."
Tolu will be available for Waratahs selection in round 10 against the Sharks.
