Bulls and Springbok lock Bakkies Botha has been banned for four weeks after recklessly charging into a ruck during a Super 14 match last weekend, a statement said on Tuesday.
The suspension covers the Bulls’ semi-final against the Crusaders of New Zealand in Soweto on Saturday, possibly the May 29 final, and Tests against Wales in Cardiff on June 5 and France in Cape Town the following weekend.
Botha is a giant ‘enforcer’ who returned to action only three weeks ago after a long injury lay-off and no stranger to disciplinary hearings with several suspensions in previous seasons.
Captaining a virtual Bulls B team at Western Stormers last Saturday, he hit an early ruck without using his arms or grasping a player and slightly built home wing Gio Aplon was treated for several minutes before continuing.
Botha was cited after the Stormers triumphed 38-10 to seal second place behind defending champions Bulls, giving both South African franchises home semi-finals with the Cape team facing New South Wales Waratahs of Australia.
Experienced Springbok Danie Rossouw, a utility forward who recently marked his 100th Super appearance, is the likely replacement for Botha in the Bulls line-up against Crusaders.
steveDarke
Guest
Now now, Peter de Villiers may say some downright stupid things, but lets fact it, they guy is the coach of one of the best international rugby teams in the world (possibly the best at the moment), while the rest of us armchair warriors think we're the bees-knees, when none of us are likely to come within a sparrow's fart of a local club coaching job, never mind the Boks, the Wallabies or the All Blacks. Yeah, I'm sure PdV felt really hurt about what we think when he was sitting in the changing rooms at Twickers, knocking back a cold beer after just watching his team hand England their heaviest ever defeat at home. Yeah, I bet he felt really sad inside.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
"If we are going on like this, why don't we go to the nearest ballet shop, get some tutus and get a dancing shop going? There will be no eye-gouging, no tackling, no nothing and we will enjoy it.!" - Peter de Villiers
johno
Guest
An you're a whiner
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
A lot of stumbling, incompetent players, is this some kind of OJ conspiracy?
scarlet
Guest
That would be why he has a four week suspension.
inkosi
Roar Rookie
2 weeks - he has one week left and will be available for the final if they get that far.
lucyfanclub
Guest
Rugby is rugby - a hard contact sport. It also has laws against spineless foul play. Get used to THAT.
Kuri
Roar Rookie
Never long before the Victim card comes out from South African fans, What Bakkies did was illegal, and it was a South African citing commisioner, not to mention Bakkies has a record for foul play.
scarlet
Guest
He is a dirty player who uses cheap shots to intimidate and damage opponents who are braced for 'normal' impact but not ready for a pure shoulder charge. While on my soap box I can't believe that Schalk Burger is being touted as a potential Springbok captain after the eye gouging against the Lions.
mattamkII
Guest
oh my lord...what a bunch of softies we are now-days. Jsut about every single ruck has 'missiles' hitting it..sure Bakkies is dirty but I love him for it. My theory is, you have your head over my side of the ruck then you had better be ready for a hit... rugby is rugby...get used to it.
Yikes
Guest
Well, to answer your question, a player must bind onto another player when they join the ruck. You no longer need to bind on a teammate - you can bind on an opponent. But you need to bind (ie grasp them), not just charge in and hit a guy. Foul Play Law 10.4(h). A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without use of the arms, or without grasping a player.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
It's a bit like when Richard Loe went to congratulate Paul Carozza and slipped.
TommyM
Guest
*Like*
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
spin doctor eh!
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Bakkies is awesome. I'm sure he just tripped on his way to the ruck.
funmaster
Guest
How long is gerhard van den heever cited for?
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Good News for Sanzar opponents, he was a great warrior for the 'Boks/Bulls, but when you get too old (reflexes and speed gone) you resort to dirty play, as it has happened since the year dot. Hail and farewell Bakkies.
mudskipper
Guest
Bakkies what a chump he just had to lead some rookies out for a polite loss but he crazed and banded for 4 weeks...
Peter K
Guest
How can it be anti SA when it was a SA citing commissioner?
adam
Guest
its a joke how he was banned as look at that punch up between reds and highlanders funny none of them were cited typical anti sa