Rocky Elsom faces judicial hearing - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Rocky Elsom faces judicial hearing

By David Beniuk 25/08/2008 09:07:44 AM Comments (0)

Wallabies flanker Rocky Elsom will learn his fate at the SANZAR judiciary in a few hours (1900 AEST Monday) after he was cited for dangerous play in Australia's 27-15 win over South Africa on Saturday.

Elsom landed an appointment with Tri-Nations officials when he apparently grabbed Victor Matfield in a lineout while the Springboks captain was in the air early in the second half at ABSA Stadium.

Elsom won the man-of-the-match award for his rugged 80-minute performance returning from a foot injury.

His loss would be a huge blow to a confident Wallabies outfit with its sights now set on knocking over a 45-year hoodoo in Johannesburg this Saturday.

Australia have already lost lock Dan Vickerman and centre Berrick Barnes, both to shoulder injuries.

Elsom missed Australia's loss to the All Blacks in New Zealand three weeks ago on a night the side's lineout was decimated.

The Australian jumpers bounced back to dominate the highly rated Springboks' set-piece on Saturday, despite the loss of Vickerman for the second half.

"I think after the Auckland game we talked about how our lineout had been going for the past 12 months prior rather than that one game," hooker Stephen Moore said.

"You don't become a bad lineout overnight or a good lineout over night.

"We talked about what we'd done well in the first five or six games before that Auckland Test and went back to what we saw as our strengths and that worked for us."

James Horwill took over the calls, while rookie Test forward Dean Mumm organised the defensive lineouts.

"To lose Vicks pretty early on, we did a lot of work on our lineout throughout the week obviously with him running the show and for those guys to come in and hold it together for the rest of the game was full credit to Jimmy Horwill and to Mummy as well when he came on," Moore said.

Elsom's hearing will follow that of Boks prop CJ van der Linde who was charged after a reckless looking headbutt aimed at Australian halfback Sam Cordingley.

The Tri-Nations title will be decided when Australia play New Zealand in Brisbane on September 13 regardless of this weekend's result at Ellis Park.

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