To defend the savage stamping on the head of a­ defenceless player on the ground with the pathetic­ excuse by his coach that he was only trying to find the­ ground beggars belief. Hayes’ body position confirms­ that this was without doubt a deliberate and highly­ dangerous stamp. If this player’s impeccable record­ warrants a lenient outcome then surely we open a­ Pandora’s Box of excuses to justify that which to true­ rugby players and fans is totally unacceptable. Hayes’­ boot was not that far away from the player’s eye would­ his record have then sufficed if a more serious outcome­ had been the case.

I had a lot of respect for Hayes­ believing that during the last two or three seasons he­ has played his best rugby but I believe he should­ receive the most severe outcome possible.

his exemplary record to date should stand him in good­ stead to only be banned until christmas. it was a­ horrid replay to watch, whether it was totally­ intentional will never be clear, but it DID happen, and­ rugby, especially at the mo, must be seen to clamp down­ on incidents such as this.