Lions roar as De Villiers condones Burger gouging incident

SPRINGBOK coach Peter de Villiers is developing a reputation for putting his foot in it, and he did little to diminish that view by effectively condoning the eye gouging of Ireland’s Luke Fitzgerald by Springbok flanker Schalk Burger on Saturday.

De Villiers insisted Burger – who was cited for the incident subsequently – did not even deserve a yellow card.

“I don’t think it should have been a card at all,” he said. “For me and for everybody, this is sport. This is what it is all about.

“What people think and what people say to us is their opinion and we honour their opinion but it doesn’t mean we all agree with it.”

Burger has been reported for allegedly making contact with the eye area of Fitzgerald while lock Bakkies Botha has also been reported for a dangerous charge on Lions prop Adam Jones early in the second half.

Lions coach Ian McGeechan yesterday voiced his displeasure over alleged eye-gouging by Burger on Fitzgerald.

“I could never condone actions like that,” said McGeechan, of the Burger incident. “I would hate to see those again. It should automatically be a red card, as I understand it.”

McGeechan also hit back at comments from his Springboks counterpart, Peter de Villiers.

He added: “I heard a quote (from de Villiers) that it might be part of the game. To me, that is never part of the game. I am very disappointed he (de Villiers) said that. I can’t see that ever being part of the game. It certainly wouldn’t be part of a game I want to be associated with.”

The Burger incident was the second incident of alleged gouging in Test rugby on Saturday after Italy captain Sergio Parisse was cited for contact with the eye area of All Blacks flanker Isaac Ross.

Luke Fitzgerald insisted Burger should have been sent off for eye-gouging him less than 30 seconds into the Test.

He said: “It’s quite a strange decision. If the referee decided that’s what he was going to card him for, then it should have been a red. I guess part of it was because it was at the start of the game and he didn’t want to spoil it as a spectacle.

“But you’d want to feel that the referee would deal with something like that quite severely. I was surprised that someone of Burger’s quality would have done something like that.”

Assistant official Bryce Lawrence brought the incident to the attention of referee Christophe Berdos and was heard to recommend a minimum of a yellow card. “It seems to be coming into the game,” said Fitzgerald.

The Lions had to replace Munster flanker Alan Quinlan from their original squad after he received a 12-week ban for gouging Leinster captain Leo Cullen in the Heineken Cup final.

Added Fitzgerald: “I went into the ruck, got cleaned out and felt a hand going for my eyes. Given the seriousness of the allegations... you would have to say it was probably a red card.

“I don’t really remember any other circumstances where that’s happened, if I’m honest with you,” he said.

“I was lucky I had my hands free and was able to stop him doing any damage. At the end of the day the ref did a pretty good job, it was pretty intense with 50,000 fans screaming and shouting. And he (Burger) is a world-class player and I’m sure he is not a dirty player.

“I don’t think anyone goes out to do any damage. At the end of the day this is a player’s career and it’s a very sensitive area he’s accused of messing around with.”

Fitzgerald added: “There are so many more cameras these days that it’s surprising players take that risk.

“They are messing around with their own livelihoods as well and the penalties are very severe if you are caught.”