Du Plessis handed three-week ban

South Africa hooker Bismarck du Plessis has been banned for three weeks following a SANZAR judicial hearing in Dunedin.

The 24-year-old was cited after yesterday’s 30-28 Tri-Nations victory against New Zealand at Carisbrook for coming into “contact with the eyes or eye area” of All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson after 11 minutes of the match.

The ban will run up to and including August 3, meaning the hooker will miss next weekend’s Tri-Nations clash against Australia in Perth but will be available again for the match against Argentina in Johannesburg on August 9.