Boks apologise for gouge comment following Schalk Burger incident

[jargan83]

Boks apologise for gouge comment following Schalk Burger incident

From correspondents in Johannesburg, South Africa

June 30, 2009

South Africa officials have apologised for comments after the Springboks win over the British and Irish Lions that gave the impression they condoned eye gouging.

Springbok enforcer Schalk Burger was earlier banned for eight weeks for gouging Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald in his country's dramatic second Test 28-25 victory on Saturday that sealed a series win.

Burger was yellow carded after just 32 seconds of the game by French referee Christophe Berdos but Bok coach Peter de Villiers refused to condemn his player's actions, saying that the flanker should not even have been sin binned.

“I don't believe it was a card at all,” said De Villiers at the time.

“In the first minute already there had been a lot of needle and if you watch the whole game you will see how many yellow cards they were let off.

“This is sport, this is what it's about. If things were clear-cut then we shouldn't even bother preparing for a game. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.”

On Monday, South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins and De Villiers issued a joint statement condemning all acts of foul play and sending out a clear message that such acts would not be tolerated in South African rugby.

“We would like to apologise to the rugby community for the erroneous impression that acts of foul play are in any way condoned by South African rugby,” said Hoskins.

“That has never been the case and is not now, and we support strong action by rugby authorities when such acts occur.

“Rugby is a physical game and a hard game but it is a game that rightly prides itself on good sportsmanship and we as SARU categorically condemn any such action. SARU fully supports any action that the IRB feels appropriate to stamp out eye gouging in the game.”

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018977,00.html

[Burgs]

Two faced gutless wonder, he was directly asked twice if he had seen the incident by the Fox interviewer in the post match one on one interview and he said he had and there was nothing in it.
He either lied then or is lying now, can't have it both ways Squeak!

[brokendown gunfighter]

Two faced gutless wonder, he was directly asked twice if he had seen the incident by the Fox interviewer in the post match one on one interview and he said he had and there was nothing in it.
He either lied then or is lying now, can't have it both ways Squeak!

Peter should say he was misunderstood
after all,English is about his fifth language

[Burgs]

"Fellas, when I said, 'I had seen the footage there was nothing wrong with it', I actually meant, 'I hadn't seen the footage but I would never condone that type of behaviour'"...type of thing?

[brokendown gunfighter]

something like that

[prop53]

He should have been banned as well Dick Head great example to set (i dont think)

[Action Hardcore]

like you joondalup dickheads don't condone that crap

[prop53]

Tut Tut A/H what are you on?

[jono]

the boks apologise. but they will select him again when his ban is up...
nice message you're sending there fellas

[jargan83]

Schaulk would apologise himself but can only communicate through a series of Grunts

[Burgs]

Maybe that could be his defence, he was trying to get his message across in sign language...