 Burger's influence after his sin-binning was key for South Africa
|
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has defended flanker Schalk Burger following his eight-week ban.
Burger was found guilty of making contact with the face in the eye area of British and Irish Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald in Saturday's second Test.
"I have watched the television footage, and am still convinced that nothing he did was on purpose. He is an honourable man," said de Villiers.
The Springboks could yet decide to appeal against Burger's suspension.
Television footage showed Burger's fingers making contact with Fitzgerald's eye inside the first minute of the game in Pretoria.
Fitzgerald was able to continue after treatment, but Burger escaped with only a yellow card from French referee Christophe Berdos, a decision taken on the advice of New Zealand touch judge Bryce Lawrence, who spotted the offence.
De Villiers added: "He never meant to go to anyone's eye, and we will now wait for the full report."
But the South Africa coach has also defended his side's physical approach to the game which saw five Lions players sent to hospital with Welsh duo Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones out of the third Test with a broken cheekbone and a dislocated shoulder respectively.
"What we must understand very clearly, rugby is a contact sport and so is dancing, guys who can't take it, let's go to nearest ballet shop and get some tutus", he told a press conference on Monday.
 |
606: DEBATE
JF
|
"If we are going to make it soft because we want a safe series and people don't like it, I can't do anything about it."
The International Rugby Board says it is looking into the issue of eye gouging after the incident involving Burger and also Italy captain Sergio Parisse, who was also banned for eight weeks for a similar offence during Saturday's 27-6 defeat by New Zealand in Christchurch.
The IRB is awaiting the report from South Africa via their judicial officer Alan Hudson.
A spokesman said: "The IRB does not condone any violent behaviour and there is no place for illegal play in our game."
According to the IRB regulations, the recommended minimum sanction for "contact with the eye or eye area" is 12 weeks.
Meanwhile, former England hooker Brian Moore told the BBC that the bans for gouging should be increased.
"It's been a publicised issue, bans have been handed out but people aren't stopping doing it and if the bans aren't working they have got to be longer," he stated.
"Rugby is a contact sport and you have to accept the risks but Burger gouged him, it was as simple as that. It can't be accidental and there is no place for it in the game.
"I don't know how Bryce Lawrence, who was the referee in the first Test and had the best view of this incident of anyone in the world, could not understand that there is no other sanction other than a red card for gouging. He is an elite referee and to get that wrong is scandalous."
- lexapro without prescription
- order isotretinoin - order isotretinoin online
- buy finasteride online - order generic propecia online
- lamisil without prescription - order terbinafine
- revia without prescription - order naltrexone online
No comments:
Post a Comment