One in the eye for de Villiers’ critics
The world champions are still debating whether or not to appeal Burger’s eight-week suspension after he was found guilty of “making contact with the face in the eye area” of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald.
Burger’s action – during the opening minute of Saturday’s 28-25 second Test triumph in Pretoria – earned only a yellow card from French referee Christophe Berdos.
But in an extraordinary press conference yesterday at the Springboks’ Johannesburg base, de Villiers fired off one outspoken comment after another.
“If you know Schalk’s nature and character – if you know the man as I know him – he would never do this,” said de Villiers.
“He is more physical than any other rugby player in the world. To go to those kind of measures, he would never ever do it. And I don’t think he did it. I have watched the television footage and I am still convinced there is no way he went there on purpose. He never meant to go to anybody’s eye.
“Eye-gouging is something that we as a team, and especially me, will never condone. Along with biting, head-butting and spear-tackling – all those things that don’t belong in the game.
“I am against anything that is not in the spirit of the game. We have brilliant players in this country, and to try to prepare them for stuff that belongs in the bushveld is nonsense. If we want to eye-gouge any lions we would go into the bushveld and eye-gouge there.
“We would never ever encourage anybody to be part of anything negative or bringing the game into disrepute. We want to promote the game among our youth. We want this game to be the biggest nation-building tool there ever can be.
“By encouraging stuff like that then we are fighting a lost cause. I would never, ever encourage it.”
Canadian judicial officer Alan Hudson’s decision was made public in the early hours of yesterday, with Springboks lock Bakkies Botha also banned following a dangerous charge on Lions prop Adam Jones that left the Wales international nursing a dislocated shoulder.
Subject to any appeals, both Burger and Botha are out of the Test series finale at Ellis Park, although South Africa have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Quizzed about the wider issue of rugby union possibly becoming a more violent sport, de Villiers added: “What we must understand here very, very clearly is that rugby is a contact sport – and so is dancing.
“There were so many incidents in that game (the second Test) that we could go and say we want to cite this guy for maliciously jumping into another guy’s face with his shoulder.
“Why don’t we do it? The reason we don’t do it is because this game will always be a game to us.
“If we are going to win games in boardrooms and in front of television cameras and in shops, we must say to ourselves, ‘Do we really respect this game that we really honour so much’?
“If it’s the case that we are, why don’t we all go to the nearest ballet shop, get some nice tutus and get some great dancing going on. No eye-gouging, no tackling, no nothing. Then enjoy.
“But in this game there will be collisions. There are no collisions in ballet. And the guy who wins the collisions hardest is the guy we always will select.”
De Villiers, who described Burger as “an honourable man,” denied he was ducking the issue over an incident that incensed Lions management and left Fitzgerald requiring treatment before he was able to continue. “I am not ducking the issue,” he said. “I am working as part of a system. We are waiting until the (judicial officer’s) report so we can dissect the whole thing and come to you with an informed answer.
“Let me tell you, if you look at the footage properly and you know the man you are working with properly, then you can see why I said it is not a yellow card.”
Despite South Africa’s Test series success against the Lions, de Villiers continues to enjoy an uncomfortable ride as Springboks chief.
He was a surprise choice last year, preferred to alternatives like former Leicester and Blue Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer, and rumours remain rife that senior players such as John Smit and Victor Matfield effectively run the team.
De Villiers though, was in no mood to take a backward step. “If I am the weakest link, then we are bloody strong!” he added.
“I didn’t know about the perception, and I do not even have time to think about it. I know myself that I am a God-given talent.
“I am the best ever that I can be, so whatever you think about me doesn’t bother me. I know what I am, and I don’t give a damn.
“We have waited 29 years for this great occasion (beating the Lions). I would love the Lions supporters to honour the fact we have won the hardest and best Test series I have seen in quite a while. I would love people to just stand up, take it on the chin and say ‘Well done for victory, well done for what you have achieved in the series and well done for winning’.’’
“Nobody has congratulated us up until now. Maybe they will do so after the third Test.”
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