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Lauaki: Not so dangerous after all
New Zealand's appeal against the two-week suspension handed to Sione Lauaki has been upheld.
Lauaki was penalised for a dangerous tackle during Saturday's 85-8 victory over Romania with the ban ruling him out of the quarter and semi-finals.
But an appeal committee, meeting in Paris on Thursday, quashed the original decision after taking into account the context in which the incident occurred.
It was decided that the judicial officer's conclusion that the attempted tackle was late could not be supported.
Lauaki, who was overlooked for selection for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against France, is now available for the semi-final on October 13 - if New Zealand beat Les Bleus.
