Neil Back

Backy: No place for gougers

Thu Jul 02 05:43PM

Rugby is a hard game, and from time to time punches are thrown. Players can accept the big hits and the odd flurry fisticuffs because they know they will recover from them.

But the potential dangers of messing around with someone's eyes are just too serious and that is why there is absolutely no place in the game for gouging.

I was gouged a few times in my career and I can tell you it's not pleasant. I didn't suffer serious injury, but I had scratches around my eyes and they felt sore for a while after the game.

This happened over a decade ago and I'm pretty sure there is less gouging going on now. Back then it tended to happen when you met certain clubs and certain players.

I knew who they were because I would get hold of their hands as they were committing the offense, and they were almost always players not good enough to get the better of you by fair means - so they would stoop to gouging.

Which is why I was so surprised by Burger's actions; he is a seriously good player who does not need to adopt such underhand behaviour.

I don't know why he did it. I was involved in a few incidents when I was playing, when the mist came down and I can understand players doing things they regret.

I once punched Joe Worsley because he was blocking me getting to the number 10; I used my hands illegally in a ruck late in a Heineken Cup final against Munster when we were under pressure; and worst of all I pushed referee Steve Lander, which earned me a six-month ban.

Incidentally, I did not mean to push Steve, I just pushed out and he happened to be the person closest to me.

Anyway, I do not condone any of these actions, and the point I'm trying to make is that none were anywhere near as serious as gouging and as a result I am not able to understand why someone would gouge.

Maybe Burger felt frustrated at missing the opening Test, maybe he wanted to make a mark early the game after coming back from injury. The Boks had the chance to wrap up the series and were under a lot of pressure - maybe it got to him. Who knows?

Either way, I think Burger will regret his actions because he is mostly a hard but clean player, respected around the world.

I'm not going to say how long he should have been suspended for, but when you consider players can get a longer ban for throwing a punch then it puts his punishment into perspective.

There have been quite a few high-profile gouging incidents this season but, as I've said, it does not go on a lot in the modern game.

There is absolutely no excuse for gouging and I know the IRB are looking at increasing the punishment. I just hope this incident can be seen in perspective and that it doesn't do too much damage to rugby's image.

Comments1 - 14 of 14

I agree on gouging. Am not sure I accept the implied okay on punching. Back's punch of Worsley was pretty horrific both in power and potential injury, and in coming from behind and apparently unprovoked and premeditated.
From lobb.bartoli on Thu Jul 02 08:15PM
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there can only be one punishment for gouging a life ban from rugby or do we have to wait untill some one is blinded
From iainbrown on Thu Jul 02 08:48PM
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We have heard enough about this already. Was there the same sort of outrage expressed when Quinlan did it? What Burger did was disgusting but he will serve his punishment and must be allowed to play again. Neil Back, did you know the Italian captain committed the same offence on the same day but you are not whining about him. I think it is just a case of sour grapes. The Boks will make it 3-0 this weekend just to rub the salt in your crying eyes.
From kellykidgell on Thu Jul 02 10:02PM
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I think there is levels of seriousness of offences, some should be higher regarded than others.Take a spear tackle for instance,at worst it can parralyse a player whereas gouging at worst a player can lose an eye. Now i have come to the conclusion that the Lions and Brtish mdia places emphassis on whatever suits them. It is the bandwagon mentality,it reared its ugly head on the previous Lions tour where spear tackling was vilified and quite rightly so. But hold on, didntn Hines get a weeks ban for this very awfull of crimes but yet not a whisper amongst the one eyed pirates of the mdia supporting the Lions.Hold on, the Irb has jumped on the band wagon now saying they will eradicate it from the game,which they should, but why did they wait till something happens before they act- same as spear tackling- are you kidding me a one week ban for spear but an eight week ban for gouging. I am not sure about you but I would rather lose an eye than the use of my arms and legs. Maybe we should tackle the real problem here which is that issues like this should have been prevented before they happen and bans should be according set plans e.g spear tackling automatic 8 week ban etc. and not when there is a media frenzy. I like how the South Africans just got on with it and did not say a word about Hines or his tackle and in contrast... well its obvious isnt it.A winner is judged by the quality of his character and by the fear his opponents have for his abillities, a loser well you choose what to say here. I have watched the after match interviews over and over and the Lions did not once congratulate the winning team whereas the Boks kept saying how great a team the Lions were.. thank goodness for skyplus boxes..
From hugo_ad2 on Thu Jul 02 11:48PM
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Hugo, what a simple view you have of things. Bandwagon mentality? In 2005 we as fans were robbed of the opportunity to watch Brian O'Driscoll square up to Umanga in the first minute of the first test. You having seen him play on this tour must surely realize how much that disappointed us rugby fans. Would the current Lions tour have been as exciting without him? Of course the media are going to report what happened in NZ, it was massive news in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. We get excited about Lions tours like we do about World Cups, possibly even more so.
As for Hines, did you see the tackle? It wasn't anything compared to what went on in 2005 so don't be such a muppet, ‘lose your arms and legs’, what a drama queen. Until the incident in 2005 spear tackles were merely a penalty infringement, after the damage caused by the tackle on O'Driscoll the IRB reviewed the punishments for spear tackling and made it a citing offence punishable by a ban depending on the severity of the case. Hence 1 week ban for Hines as the tackle was not that bad.
Gouging has always been illegal, and it's disgraceful by any civilized mans standards. To try to base your argument on the comparison of the 2 shows a pretty low insight into the issues.
From ptothej on Fri Jul 03 09:17AM
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SA needs clean rugby, as does everyone else; they are too good a side with too many good players to sink this low. Get rid of de Villiers and his mentality of coaching physical attack to the rules and 'what you can get away with'
From johnwtweddle on Fri Jul 03 09:35AM
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I agree with you Kelly. I saw the italian captain incident,but what I dont understand is as far as I know nothing happend to him.I Think a minimum of 8weeks suspension is necesary-regardles of severety or if its intensional or not.IRB should be fair in all situations,they seem to be biast towards who ever recieves the most negative media attention.Then again thats part of rugby isnt it
From jaco.delarey on Fri Jul 03 09:44AM
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The italian captain was also banned for 8 weeks and his was not half as bad as Burger's who was actually looking at what he was doing! So disappointing as stated before SA has the talent in depth for them not to need to be voilent or undisciplined.
From neilsummerfield on Fri Jul 03 10:12AM
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There is hard play and there is hard play. I think that most probably both the Lions and SA did transgress the reasonable limit of hard play, but the fact that 5 Lions ended up in hospital and no SA players suggests that SA drastically exceeded this reasonable limit.
From kingamells on Fri Jul 03 10:32AM
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The last time I looked the IRB was in charge of Rugby worldwide - The Ruling Body ! If addressing the cowardly action of gouging another player is 'jumping on the bandwagon' then heaven help the game.
I hear suggestions that the 'low end tariff' for gouging (which incidently stands at 12 weeks, so Burger got off lightly)is increased to 12 months which seems about right in my mind. It is the most despicable cowardly action a rugby player can make and those committing it have no place in the game, whoever they are. Finally it's about time Burger apologised to Fitzgerald unreservedly and publicly.
From richardwdavies on Fri Jul 03 11:16AM
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Has any noticed that the incidents of big hits and impact injuries have increased since the IRB gave up on the regulation og players wearing padding. Have you had a good look at Habana, he looks like Joan Collins in Dynasty. Get rid of the padding, all of it and the head gear, and watch the amount of impact injuries drop. It'll take a month or two before the idiots out there realise they are getting hurt but it will happen. And, on that point, what the ghell is a fly half and inside centre doing waering crash helmets. Are you listening Giteau and Barnes ?
From richardwdavies on Fri Jul 03 11:22AM
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kellykidgell... alan quinlan got a 12 week ban and his gouge was nowhere near as bad as burgers... so i think there is a reason to go on about it when he gets away so lighly.. itl make the scumbag think twice next time he decides to act like a little girl and try to damage sumones eye
From nheavey on Fri Jul 03 12:22PM
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I saw backy punch simon shaw at a game in bristol, many years ago.
He had to jump up to get him but it was a good one....
From garyhorrobin on Fri Jul 03 02:05PM
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Altogether now Lions fans........WWWWAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
From warrenkidgell on Fri Jul 03 10:56PM
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