Boks stung by two Bs
by David Campese | 30 June 2009 (09:34)
There can be no tears for the Springboks’ two bully boys Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha.
What was Burger thinking? Was he thinking? What he did is one of the most stupid things I have ever seen. He’s man not a kid for goodness sake, playing in his 50th Test match.
The Boks were extremely lucky he wasn’t red-carded, because he should have been, and had the referees given the correct ruling South Africa would surely have lost the Test match.
It’s not about knowing the rules or not. It was just a shocking act which Schalk should be ashamed of. He’s lucky to get away with only eight weeks because before the tour, Alan Quinlan, the Irish flanker picked for the Lions ahead of Tom Croft, was handed a 12-week suspension for exactly the same dastardly deed.
There are some things you just don’t do on a rugby field and having a go at a guy’s eyes is one of them.
I see in the newspapers that South Africans are unhappy that Bakkies Botha has also been banned (for two weeks). They claim he was cleaning out legally and that it is only because Adam Jones was hurt that he was suspended.
What rubbish. Bakkies should have gone years ago because he does a lot of questionable things and has a record as long as his arm. I just find it very frustrating that professional players can’t keep this kind of thing out of the game.
The Springboks on balance played the better rugby to win the series but they were extremely lucky in both Tests.
All credit to Morné Steyn to stand up and kick that last penalty but I really felt it should never have been. Ronan O’Gara was hard done by to be pinned with a penalty because he never took his eyes off the ball and collided with Fourie du Preez. I don’t think it was a case of him deliberately taking Du Preez’s legs.
The other thing that struck me about the two Tests is the difference between a southern hemisphere and a northern hemisphere referee. They were a week apart but it looked as though we were watching two completely different games. There’s a lot to be desired with the way the game is being played at the moment and the IRB really have to move to sort it out.
They don’t seem to have the will to stamp down uniformity. A couple of years ago they said that head-high tackles were a no-no; go above the shoulders and you’re off. Yet week in and week out we see guys getting away with head-high tackles.
Take the Schalk Burger incident. Eye-gouging is a pretty heinous offence and if that’s what the referees decided why wasn’t he red-carded immediately.
It may have been within the first minute but the only way you can have consistency is if everyone knows that the law is the law.
I have been harsh on the Springboks but why am I not surprised to see the Poms doing what they do best – whinging! They had their chances but failed to take them and the Boks came back and won so it’s no good crying now.
