South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has been cited for alleged foul play during their Rugby Championship defeat to Australia in Perth on Saturday.
Etzebeth is alleged to have contravened Law 10.4 (a) Punching or Striking, when he made contact with Australian lock Nathan Sharpe with his head. The incident occurred in the 25th minute of the match between Australia and South Africa at Patersons Stadium in Perth on September 8.
Upon further review of match footage the Citing Commissioner deemed in his opinion the incident had met the Red Card threshold.
The Citing is to be considered in the first instance by SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Mike Heron.
Comments
melkdave says...
I should think so ,while the head butt didnt connect ,INTENT was clearly there .Im afraid tere is no place for such behaviour in the game ,as far as im concerned.Etzebeths citing is for his INTENT ,not the actual attempted headbutt,You cant have players intending to hurt other players FULL STOP
Posted 11:10 09th September 2012
meneer says...
Sharpe had to be warned by the ref, the next infringement he was off - that is how poorly he played and then starts crying like a little girl when a 19yr old won't stand back for him. The head movement was just part of the niggles, no contact was made - even though Sharpe tried to make something of it.
Posted 09:31 09th September 2012
bloemboy says...
Thorne must be hopibng to testify about how much that hurt! Scarred for life and traumatised by the big bad Saffas!
Posted 09:27 09th September 2012
scrumpoacher says...
Are you lot mad? Clear intent to headbutt-just didn't pull it off! He should be cited in accordance with the laws, however childish they may be...
Posted 07:34 09th September 2012
Ramage says...
Here come all the excuses for foul play from the Saffas.. Whether it was effective or not head butts are not part of our game your snide remarks leebok show how sad you are. Intent was there and that kind of play needs to be eliminated.
Just shows how you try to deny any such foul play. What has to be decided was whether the foul play was intentional not whether it was effective. Well done citing commissioner for doing your job.
Posted 07:04 09th September 2012
GoWalesGo says...
He went over the top, too lairy, he showed his inexperience. But does it deserve a red card or a citing? I don't think so...
Posted 06:42 09th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
50% of rugby is defending, which means tackling, so high tackles in general play are going to happen, yes penalty, citing questionable unless it looks intentional or a real shocker. Leading with your head in a headbutt motion (and looks like he connected) when the whistle has been blown deserves another look, no matter how hard he connected. How smart is this Etzebeth character? Dont cry another Justice for Bakkies if he gets a week, the ref didn't even reverse the penalty and Steyn scored 3, that would have meant no bonus point, so I reckon SA got off ok.
Posted 03:49 09th September 2012
side_stepper says...
The citing commissioner should have watched the NRL preliminary final between Canterbury Bulldogs & Manly Sea Eagles..there were numerous scraps and malicious tackling yet no citings done..rugby union is starting to be like american sports..especially NFL
Posted 03:03 09th September 2012
atg77 says...
or when Tana umaga brutally spear tackled Brian Odrisscol in 2005 and no one batted an eye lid...
Posted 23:17 08th September 2012
leebok says...
Sharpe beaten up by a 19YO. Please. Man up IRB. I saw 2 head high tackles by Aus that went unpunished. Can they be cited please?
Posted 18:16 08th September 2012
JayStarr says...
Barely touching a players chin with your head gets a red card, but nearly taking a player's head off (as Adam Ashley Cooper did with Mvovo) doesn't even get a penalty... The insanity of the mysterious Citing Commissioner continues.
Posted 17:28 08th September 2012
nefari says...
Hahahahahahaha you have GOT to be kidding us right? April fools joke maybe?
Posted 17:14 08th September 2012