Valetini escapes sanction after hip-drop tackle leaves All Blacks winger Carter with ankle injury

Rob Valetini escaped sanction for a hip-drop tackle that forced All Blacks winger Leroy Carter off with a potentially serious ankle injury during New Zealand’s 50-19 Bledisloe Cup victory at Eden Park on Saturday — a result that extended the All Blacks’ unbeaten run at the venue to 54 Tests and handed the Wallabies a 12th consecutive defeat in the fixture.

Valetini’s desperate attempt to stop a try in the 67th minute saw his weight fall onto Carter’s legs as he came from behind, with the winger unable to continue. New Zealand coach Dave Rennie described the incident plainly: “It didn’t look good. Sort of like a hip-drop type tackle, landed on the back of his ankle.”

The timing of the incident is significant. World Rugby moved earlier in the week to formally add the hip-drop tackle to its rule book, following similar action by the NRL and NFL after years of serious injuries from the technique. However, the new law does not take effect until November 1, meaning no specific penalty could be applied to Valetini’s tackle on the night. From that date, the action will result in at least a penalty kick and carries the risk of a suspension.

When asked whether the tackle warranted punishment, Rennie declined to press the point. “I’ll leave that for the officials,” he said. “I’m sure it’s not intentional, but that’s the way the game’s going.”

The All Blacks arrived at Eden Park having lost three consecutive Tests to South Africa, and captain Codie Taylor revealed the squad had been galvanised by a sharp address from assistant coach Tana Umaga, who was part of New Zealand sides that won and retained the Bledisloe Cup in the late 1990s and early 2000s. “Appropriate fear,” Taylor said of the effect it had. “Which is what you need when you’re playing for the Bled at Eden Park.”

The injury list from the match complicates preparations for both camps ahead of the Sydney rematch next Saturday. Wallabies centre Len Ikitau failed his head injury assessment and is set to miss the second Test, while All Blacks lock Scott Barrett was also concussed. Rennie said he was hopeful Barrett would clear the necessary protocols in time to feature.