By CHRIS RATTUE in Sydney
England have escaped a significant punishment over the 16th-man controversy meaning the All Blacks are set to face South Africa in the World Cup quarter-finals.
The English, who admitted misconduct, emerged virtually unscathed early today after a four-hour hearing in a Sydney lawyers' office to investigate why
they had 16 men on the field briefly against Samoa.
The English ignored the directions of a touchline official in sending wing Dan Luger on for the injured Mike Tindall. Luger was told to leave the field by referee Jonathan Kaplan after making a tackle.
Unless Samoa can cause a massive upset and make the quarter-finals by defeating South Africa in Brisbane tomorrow night, the All Blacks and their traditional foe will clash in Melbourne.
England were fined £10,000 ($27,726) and their fitness trainer Dave Reddin, who sent Luger on, suspended for two games for the rule breach. Luger was on the field, while Tindall was also technically still playing, for 34 seconds late in their 35-22 win over the Samoans in Melbourne on Sunday.
The Samoans did not protest and accepted the incident occurred in error, and although England have faced major criticism the judgment is probably a fair one.
The punishments were handed out by the independent judicial officer Mr Brian McLaughlin of Ireland, who said he took into account England's apology and acknowledgment of error.
A misconduct complaint against Mr Reddin over an alleged altercation in the tunnel with New Zealand referee Steve Walsh, the No.4 match official, was not upheld.
