Monday, June 29, 2009

SA's Burger handed eight-week ban

Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha
Burger and Botha are both out of the third Test against the Lions

South Africa flanker Schalk Burger has been handed an eight-week ban after being found guilty of making contact with Luke Fitzgerald's eye area.

Burger was sin-binned in the first minute of the second Test against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday, and then cited after the match.

Meanwhile, his team-mate Bakkies Botha will also miss the final Test with a two-week ban for dangerous charging.

The incident involving Botha left Adam Jones with a dislocated shoulder.

Both players attended the hearing in Pretoria on Sunday, one day after their side took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Lions coach Ian McGeechan said about Burger "it should be automatically a red card as I understand it".

"To me that it is never part of the game, I could never condone actions like that," he added.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers refused to condemn Burger's actions, something McGeechan admitted he was "very disappointed" by.

"I don't believe it was a card at all," said the South Africa coach.

"In the first minute already there had been a lot of needle and if you watch the whole game you will see how many yellow cards they were let off.

"This is sport, this is what it's about. If things were clear cut then we shouldn't even bother preparing for a game. Everyone is entitled to their opinion."

McGeechan was not present when De Villiers spoke but when informed of what the Springbok boss had said he admitted: "I am very disappointed if that's what he said.

"Because for me you can't see that and say it's a part of the game that I would ever want to be associated with."

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