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Coach Muir bemoans Botha's two-week ban

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Published Date: 01 July 2009
SOUTH Africa attack coach Dick Muir admitted he "fears what the game is coming to" as the Springboks confirmed they had lodged an appeal against Bakkies Botha's two-week ban.
Botha was suspended on Sunday after being found guilty of a "dangerous charge" on Adam Jones, which left the British and Irish Lions prop with a dislocated shoulder.

The appeal hearing will take place via teleconference tomorrow morning. If cleare
d, Botha could face the Lions in Sunday's third Test.

Springboks forwards coach Gary Gold described the suspension as "preposterous" because he felt Botha had cleared out the ruck legally.

And Muir said: "We certainly don't see any wrongdoing in that challenge and if it wasn't for the injury which came from it, I don't think anything would have been said about it.

"It is a major concern for us. There were a lot of other tougher incidents on the field where people could have been cited. We realise that it's a tough game, but what is disappointing for us was that there was no reason for Bakkies to be cited.

"We're concerned at what the game is coming too. Cleaning out at rucks is a big part of the game and is really physical. We are just concerned it could change the face of the game."

The Springboks will not be appealing Schalk Burger's eight-week ban for making contact with the eye area of Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald.





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  • Last Updated: 30 June 2009 9:54 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Rambling Sid Rumpo,

01/07/2009 05:14:57
I think the Boks may have a point on this Botha issue. (But they are dead wrong over Burger!)
2

standing off,

01/07/2009 09:22:53
An awful lot has been said about the Burger incident - much of which makes Lions supporters sound like sore loasers - but there hasn't been nearly enough focus on how the match officials dealt with the matter. The ref didn't see it -as he explained to Burger and Smit - so was totally reliant on his touch judge to give him clear guidance and advice, which he didn't get. "A yellow card........at least" is a confused message. What he should have said is: "I saw green No. 6 eye-gouge red No. 11 without provocation. Straight red card, no question."
3

iain Dewar,

edinburgh 01/07/2009 13:21:16
99 99 99 99 99

 

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