Blues coach Pat Lam has slammed what he sees as inconsistencies by Super Rugby citing commissioners after flanker Luke Braid was banned for three weeks.

Braid copped the suspension after pleading guilty to striking Stormers forward Nizaam Carr in the Blues’ 27-12 defeat in Cape Town last weekend.

Lam says it’s fair enough that Braid has to take responsibility, although he described the player’s actions as “really innocuous”.

However, he’s upset hooker Dan Coles will be in the Hurricanes’ side to face the Blues in Auckland on Friday night after avoiding being cited against the Highlanders.

“All we ask for is fairness,” Lam said on Wednesday.

“We’ve got one guy who’s out for three weeks and another guy playing this week and openly admitting what he did and it’s obviously worse than what Luke did.

“Nothing against the players – it’s more against the citing commissioners.”

The Blues have a bye next week, so Braid, who struck Carr with a forearm to the back of the neck and then with a part-open hand to the head, will miss two matches.

On Monday, Coles conceded he might have been lucky to avoid a citing after the Hurricanes’ 19-17 defeat to the Highlanders.

Coles was penalised for leading with his shoulder in a ruck and later threw a punch at opposition prop Bronson Murray.

He described what he did as “stupid retaliation” and something he would have to cut out of his game.