22 October 2012
Australia forward Scott Higginbotham will miss next month’s Test with England after being banned for two matches for striking New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.
Higginbotham admitted kneeing and head-butting McCaw during Saturday’s Bledisloe Test in Brisbane which ended in an 18‑18 draw.
Having reviewed the case, duty Judicial Officer Jannie Lubbe SC assessed the penalty for each charge to be two matches but ruled Higginbotham could serve the suspensions concurrently, meaning he was only ruled out for half the games in the four-match tour of Europe.
The Twickenham match is on November 17 and he will also miss the Test against France in Paris a week earlier.
