Super Rugby
Liam Gill cited for White wrestling tackle
March 15, 2015
The Reds sink to new lows in a 0-29 loss to the Brumbies (Australia only)

Queensland Reds flanker Liam Gill has been cited for what Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham described as a "reckless, dangerous" throw tackle on Nic White.

In a move seemingly ripped from the playbook of the WWE, Gill's frustrations boiled over in the second half when he picked up White and threw him over his head - an almost textbook powerbomb, in professional wrestling parlance. The Reds hardman was promptly sent to the sin bin, a moment which served in a huge turning point as the Brumbies went on to win 29-0 on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

Gill was later cited for incident and will face a SANZAR judicial hearing this week.

Larkham felt Gill deserved further punishment for his actions. "He got a yellow card in the game but for us it was more dangerous than that. It's just a reckless, dangerous infringement.. What concerns me is he was upside-down, he got thrown to the ground and he's a halfback, who's meant to be protected."

Reds coach Richard Graham said he had no idea what Gill, who has been one of Queensland's best in a tough start to the year, was trying to do. "I saw White over the ball but it was probably not the cleanest of clearouts I've seen before. It was probably more something from WWE or something like that," Graham said.

Nic White was on the end of a nasty tackle from Liam Gill © Getty Images
Enlarge

A suspension of any sort for Gill is the last thing Queensland needs right now, particularly as their Super Rugby campaign reaches a critical juncture. The Reds have the bye next week and then face the Lions at home on March 27.

Graham said he expects to have seven players back from injury for that match, among them backline stars James O'Connor and Quade Cooper. But Graham admitted their return would not guarantee anything.

"There's no secret to turning it around - that group coming back has to work hard and help the guys who have been working in the last five or so games," he said.

Graham refused to contemplate suggestions that it was already too late for Queensland to salvage anything from this season.

"It has to be turned around sooner rather than later," he said. "There's 11 games to go in the pool stages. Eight wins last year got two teams to the semis. There's still plenty of rugby to be played and enough confidence in the group that we can do that and achieve that."

© AAP

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.