On Monday, Highlanders prop Kane Hames was banned for five weeks for striking Crusaders lock Dominic Bird in the latter stages of the match between the Highlanders and the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.
In contrast, Blues lock Hayden Triggs got one week for punching and being sent off while Crusaders prop Owen Franks appeared to do the same thing as Hames yet got just two weeks, which is effectively a one-game ban.
Hames was banned for five weeks, as Bird picked up a cut and black eye from the incident and the penalty had to be seen as a deterrent.
Triggs was ordered from the field in his side's match against the Stormers when he threw a punch at Stormers No 8 Duane Vermeulen in the first half.
At a judicial hearing in South Africa late on Monday, Triggs was banned for one week and will miss his side's match against the Cheetahs on Saturday morning.
Judicial officer Robert Stelzner found the incident to have a low-range entry point which stipulated a two-week suspension.
This was reduced to one week as Triggs pleaded guilty, showed remorse and had an excellent disciplinary record.
Triggs was also said to have been provoked and acted in retaliation.
The impact his early sending off had on the game further played a role in having just a one-week sanction.
Late yesterday, Stelzner ruled Franks would be banned for two weeks, although with the Crusaders having the bye after this week's game against the Chiefs, Franks will miss just one game.
Franks, who appeared to strike Highlanders prop Josh Hohneck while the front rower was lying on the ground, told the hearing he was attempting to remove Hohneck by grabbing him around the chest and using his bodyweight to force Hohneck down and away from the ball.
Franks conceded he struck Hohneck with his arm carelessly but there was no malice involved.
Stelzner said Franks' actions were reckless and there were two instances of a strike, the second being more reckless than the first, and Hohneck was in a vulnerable position.
But his offence was described at a low-range entry point with a two-week penalty.
One week was added to the suspension but then taken away due to Franks admitting his culpability and having a clean record.
The Crusaders said their development side, the Knights, has a game scheduled for the week of the bye and Franks could have played in it.
Stelzner agreed with the Crusaders so Franks would miss just one game at Super rugby level.
It seems hard to believe Franks, a seasoned All Black who has a long season in front of him, and who played the opening two games of the season, would have played for a development side in a match of no importance.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph could not be reached for comment yesterday but he would be unhappy with what seems a tough call for his side.
Taieri prop Aki Seiuli was training with the Highlanders yesterday.
With Hames out and Pingi Tala'pitaga carrying a knee injury, the side has just four props to cover the starting team and the bench.
