South Africa captain John Smit has slammed the "ludicrous" decision that means Springboks hard man Bakkies Botha will miss Saturday's final British and Irish Lions showdown.
Botha and flanker Schalk Burger are suspended from the tour-ending encounter at Ellis Park. Burger is sidelined for eight weeks after being found guilty of making contact with the face in the eye area of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald during the second Test, and Botha landed a two-week punishment for a dangerous charge on Lions prop Adam Jones in the same game.
"We are deeply saddened, and probably more angry than anything else with regards to the Bakkies Botha outcome," said Smit. "We've had support from players in the Lions squad - and I've had support from players around the world who I have played with and against, who've also said it is ludicrous."
Jones suffered a dislocated shoulder and has flown home early, while Springboks management unsuccessfully appealed against Botha's ban.
But Smit has leapt to Botha's defence following an incident that many astute judges feel amounted to nothing more than the Blue Bulls forward legally clearing out Jones at a ruck.
Smit also claimed to have received support from Lions players and management.
He added: "I think we have to hope and pray that it is purely just victimisation of Bakkies Botha, and not the way the game is going.
"If it is not victimisation of Bakkies for the way that he plays the game hard, then a ruling like this could change this wonderful game we have for good.
"It is a great concern. The players are not happy, and we will stand together in this regard and make a point.
"If he has been found guilty for something that is not part of the game, I think we could probably take 15 or 20 clips out of every single Test match that's been played up until this date and ban every single guy that has cleaned a ruck."
Comment 1 - 9 of 9
p.murphy80
Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but it's funny how even the Lions management and team, even Jones himself, disagrees with you.
So I think we are going to have to agree to disagree here.
The white bands make a strong statement that this aspect of the game needs to be sorted out. The IRB needs to step up and clarify the cleanout laws so that this ridiculous inconsistency does not happen again.
bosvark
Botha did not bind with his arm he made a deliberate barge on the open shoulder of Jones. He made no attempt to bind and got what he deserved. As for wearing "white arm bands" in support of Botha what a bunch of whingers.
Don't worry about the score this afternoon; just make sure that as many boers as possible end up in hopsital or the mortuary
Nobody is complaining that BOD "cleared out Danie Rossouw with an illegal shoulder barge" and what about Sheridan's knacker cracker? perhaps you should remove your blinkers! It is a hard game and always will be.
IRB should make a 2 year minimum ban for gouging with no exceptions
tonypearce189:
Can you attest that there is a greater injury rate in the Southern Hemi (from their so called "illegal play") vs. Northern Hemi?
Is there a greater injury rate in Super 14 vs. Heineken cup? ---not that this is really a fair comparison as the standard of rugby is hardly comparable IMHO anyway.
Show me the data.
Yes, JD, it IS time for the IRB to settle these different interpretations of the Laws between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. For too, too long the Southern Hemisphere has got away with illegal play that has caused injury. But until the IRB bite the bullet and take drastic action, it will continue.
I bet that there will be illegal play by SA tomorrow.
Does someone have to die before this callous disregard for the Laws is actioned?
Nonsense:
Go and watch the incident again. Botha enetered through the gate and bound with the arm before applying pressure with the shoulder.
Smit's last comment says it all: If Botha's cleanout was illegal, almost every cleanout throughout the series should also have been penalised.
to clear out the law states you are to be bound to your own player or opposition or its illegal
adam jones was taken out because he tamed the beast typicl sa tactics
Clearing out is the eqivalent of tackling a man without the ball. Again if you use a shoulder charge and do not use your arms to hold a man it is an illegal tackle. Surely it is time to sort out these inconsitencies.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account