Sunday, November 8, 2009 Previous editions
Saturday, July 04, 2009
SOUTH AFRICA captain John Smit has slammed the "ludicrous" decision that means Springboks hard man Bakkies Botha will miss today’s final Lions showdown.
Botha landed a two-week punishment for a dangerous charge on Lions prop Adam Jones in the same game. Jones suffered a dislocated shoulder and has flown home early, while the Springbok management unsuccessfully appealed against Botha’s ban. But Smit has leapt to Botha’s defence following an incident 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.
"We are deeply saddened, and probably more angry than anything else with regards to the Bakkies Botha outcome," said Smit, who leads his country for the 58th time today.
"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.
"I have to hope it is victimisation of an individual — otherwise this game is going in the wrong direction.
"To let something like this be passed is obviously setting a precedent that would probably ruin the game from a ruck point of view.
"We’ve had support from the Lions management, who have also said they don’t agree with the citing.
"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.
"There is a fine balance. For a ruling to be made on a guy like Bakkies who went into a ruck from behind the gates with his arms bound without a shoulder charge, the unfortunate thing is Adam Jones got injured, but purely because his arm was stuck in the ruck. This ruling creates a scary scenario for the future of the game."
Smit, though, is determined to see a gripping Test series concluded in the right and proper fashion. "Emotions are always going to run high in a series like this one," he said.
"It has been a phenomenal series: two tight matches with one to go. Every one of our players will remember this for the rest of his life.
"The wonderful thing about playing rugby union is you get to run into each other and tackle each other at a million miles per hour, then afterwards share a beer.
"It was a hard Test match (last Saturday) — it was a classic. The harder they are and the worse you feel on a Sunday, the more you remember of them and the more you enjoy yourself afterwards."
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