Wallabies winger Reece Hodge said he had no "effective knowledge" of World Rugby's high tackle framework in his evidence in a judiciary hearing on Wednesday night, according to World Rugby's full judgement.
In the full written decision published on Thursday evening, It was revealed that Hodge accepted that he had struck Yato on the head with his shoulder but that was not his intent.
Hodge also conceded that he had no effective knowledge of World Rugby's decision-making framework for head high tackles and had not been trained on it because "the tackles he makes are predominantly in the waist to knees area".
It was an admission that the panel wrote was "a major concern" and played a part in their final decision on his suspension.
Wallabies sources clarified Hodge was aware of the protocols but was so intent on tackling low he had not focussed on the fine detail of what constituted a high tackle.
The panel wrote in their decision that they accepted that Hodge was attempting to tackle Yato and wrap his arms but was "never low enough" to be of a reasonable height.
Yato gave evidence in a statement, saying he "did not expect his contact to be so high."
“I ran down the left side of the field. As I came to Hodge, I lowered my height slightly in preparation for contact and to be ready to offload the ball," he said.
"I did not expect his contact to be so high. From the moment he hit my face I blacked out and woke up when I was on my back”.
Australia has 48 hours to appeal the decision, handed down by the judicial committee on Wednesday night after a four-hour hearing in Tokyo.
Many Australian rugby figures were astonished by the length of the suspension, for a dangerous tackle on Fiji flanker Peceli Yato, which was halved from an entry point of six weeks for his good character and conduct.
Despite Australia's arguments that Hodge was simply bracing for contact and actually turned his head away from Yato to avoid a head clash, the judiciary deemed the hit met the red card threshold under their high tackle threshold.
Reaction to the verdict has been varied across the globe, with Wallabies legend Tim Horan slamming the call and former England coach Clive Woodward also criticising the call.
Reece Hodge has been suspended for three weeks for a tackle on Peceli Yato during the @wallabies vs @fijirugby game. #RWC2019 https://t.co/PRJZeTN0PP
— Twitter Moments Australia (@MomentsAU) September 25, 2019
Totally wrong decision, will have huge implications for the tournament- for me this is a yellow card and no more @ITVRugby . Has any of those making this decision ever tried stopping someone as powerful as Yato by wrapping their arms around him ?- good luck if you try that ! https://t.co/GdI3rXO0Zr
— Sir Clive Woodward (@CliveWoodward) September 25, 2019
Wow!!
— Drew Mitchell (@drew_mitchell) September 25, 2019
Way to go @WorldRugby 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I'm all for the safety and welfare of rugby players. But 3 weeks for Reece Hodge tackle puts ALL @rugbyworldcup players on notice. #itsnottouchfooty @FOXRUGBY
— Tim Horan (@TimHoran12) September 25, 2019
Others have voiced the view that Hodge's tackle ticked all of the elements of World Rugby's high tackle framework established in 2017
So Reece Hodge has been banned for 3 weeks for this tackle on Peceli Yato in the @wallabies v @fijirugby game at the @rugbyworldcup. Do you agree with the outcome? For what it’s worth I do.pic.twitter.com/bs7bnQbd1J
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) September 25, 2019
Once it was cited and went to a disciplinary hearing, this was the only realistic outcome under the current World Rugby framework on high tackles.
— Simon Thomas (@simonrug) September 25, 2019
Australia plays Wales on Sunday in Tokyo and Hodge's replacement in the starting side will be revealed on Friday when they announce their team.
Dane Haylett-Petty looms as the most likely replacement for Hodge in the run-on XV, with Adam Ashley-Cooper another potential wing option.
The Wallabies take on Wales on Sunday September 29 at Tokyo Stadium, kicking off at 4:45pm local, 5:45pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Network Ten and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO, the Rugby Xplorer App and Amazon Alexa.
