SANZAR punish Durban's 'dirty duo'
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:47
Big hit: Bok prop CJ van der Linde gets rave reviews in Ireland
Springbok prop CJ van der Linde and Aussie forward Rocky Elsom were handed suspensions after both were found guilty of dangerous play during the Durban Test between South Africa and Australia.
Bok prop Van der Linde was suspended for four weeks after being found guilty of dangerous play at a ruck.
He was cited by commissioner Steve Hinds of New Zealand for striking Wallaby scrumhalf Sam Cordingley with his head in the eighth minute of the match.
The SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) disciplinary officer, Nick Davidson QC of New Zealand, accepted Van der Linde's guilty plea to contravening Law 10.4(i) for dangerous play at a ruck. Van der Linde was cleared of contravening Law 10.4(a) relating to deliberately striking an opponent with the head.
Van der Linde has been suspended from all rugby until Monday, September 22.
In his findings, Davidson said that the offence was cited as a deliberate striking with the head to the head. After hearing evidence and reviewing video coverage he decided that the offence was on the cusp of a striking but, applying the standard of proof, was assessable as dangerous play in a ruck under law 10.4(i).
Davidson found that this was an attempt to clear out at the ruck with no legitimacy, Van der Linde driving forward unbound, off his feet, with his head as a leading edge. Van der Linde denied targeting the head but acknowledged it was an illegal attempt to clear out, carrying a risk to Cordingley, who was fortunately not injured.
As a deliberate strike this would have warranted a top-end entry, and would have carried a more severe penalty. Without injury and in the context of an illegal attempt to clear out, a mid-range entry penalty of four weeks applied.
Van der Linde's four-week suspension could well spell the end of his Springbok career.
The Cheetahs player has already signed a contract to play overseas with Magners League champions Leinster this coming season, and the ban means that he will now miss the Springboks' closing Tri-Nations encounter on Saturday.
The Bok management have already indicated that overseas-based players are only included in the national fold in exceptional circumstances.
Meanwhile Aussie loose forward Rocky Elsom received a one-week ban for his illegal tackle on Springbok lock Victor Matfield during a line-out on Saturday.
Officer Davidson reviewed video evidence of the incident and found that Elsom had used both hands to tackle Matfield while the Bok player was still in the air. This caused Matfield to land awkwardly and sustain a minor groin injury, which was confirmed during the hearing per telephone by Matfield himself.
Davidson ruled that Elsom's interference was dangerous, and suspended the player from all rugby until Monday, September 1.
This means that Elsom will be ineligible for this weekend's Johannesburg Test against the Springboks, but he will be available for selection in Australia's Tri-Nations decider against New Zealand in Brisbane on September 13.
Ironically, Elsom could also be entering his swansong for Australia in that match against the All Blacks, as he will soon be lining up next to Van der Linde for Leinster.
