Jamie Mackintosh elbow earns him red and a one week ban

Southland Stags prop Jamie Mackintosh was shown a straight red card in an ITM Cup match against Otago on Saturday. The burly prop was cited and has since pleaded guilty to contravening law 10.4(a) Punching or Striking, and has been banned for a week. Mackintosh collided with Otago prop Hisa Sasagi, and while Sasagi just put his hands up, the Southland front rower lifted his arm, making dangerous contact with the face. Sasagi needed treatment and despite Mackintosh's protestations, the referee had little option but to judge on what he saw, which was an unprovoked forearm, or elbow, to the face…