Eddie Jones accused the Springboks of eye gouging, biting, spitting and disgracing rugby union during Saturday’s 29-9 loss to his world champion Australians at Lang Park.
”It’s really a disgrace for international rugby, it puts a whole slur on the game, incidents like this,” said Jones. He said the South Africans had intended to use illegal violence to unsettle opposing teams.
South Africa was twice reduced to 14 men Saturday when hooker Danie Coetzee and prop Robbie Kempson were sin-binned. Kempson and replacement lock Bakkies Botha were later cited and ordered to front disciplinary hearings on Sunday.
Kempson was cited for a late and high tackle on Wallabies No. 8 Toutai Kefu during Australia’s last scoring movement in the 78th minute. The Springboks frontrower had just returned after spending 10 minutes in the sinbin for allegedly tripping a rival.
Kefu was carried from the field and later treated in hospital for neck problems and numbness in his arms and fingers.
Australian hooker Brendan Cannon claimed in a post-match news conference that he’d been bitten and then poked in both eyes. Botha was subsequently cited for attacking the face of an opponent. TV replays didn’t appear conclusive.
”I was bitten on my right shoulder so I retaliated and the subsequent retaliation from the South African player was to put his fingers in both my eyes, which was quite a frightening experience,” said Cannon.
The corresponding Tri-Nations match in Brisbane last year was marred by a brawl which resulted in three players — two Australians and a South African — sent to the sinbin.
The Springboks also had men sent off during a 53-3 loss to England at Twickenham last November.
Violence ”comes with the territory” against South Africa, said Wallabies skipper George Gregan. Jones said it was a South African tactic.
”You look at the games in recent times that have had rubbish in them -Brisbane last year, England at Twickenham and this game — and there’s one team that’s been involved in them,” Jones said.
”I think it’s a deliberate tactic. If you don’t want players like that in your side then you don’t pick them,” he added. ”If you want players to go on with rubbish like that, then you continue to pick them and reward them with leadership roles.”
Springboks coach Rudolf Straeuli said he didn’t condone or promote foul play and wouldn’t select anyone exposed as a dirty player.
He said he didn’t notice anything untoward from his players against Australia and would leave it in the hands of the citing commissioner.
”If there is eye gouging or biting, we would not accept that in our team and that player wouldn’t play,” he said.
Springboks skipper Corne Krige denied any institutional acceptance of violent, illegal acts.
”If you try and play like that in this era of world rugby, you’re crazy,” he said. ”If there were one or two incidents, then steps will be taken. But we don’t plan that as a team. We came here to play positively, and that’s what I thought happened.”
Krige rejected Jones’ accusation that the violence was orchestrated from the top.
”There’s been campaigns against me in the past and I’ve withstood the test of time,” the blindside flanker said. ”You’ve got to look at the agendas behind it as well.”
He said the Springboks had been taking a hard line on discipline in a bid to cut down on the penalty counts.
The South Africans conceded 13 penalties and were awarded six at Lang Park, with Australian flyhalf landing five penalty goals from five attempts.
”It’s really frustrating,” Krige said. ”We’ve paid a lot of attention to our discipline. We’ve got a referee on board full time. Every time we get penalised, he checks it out, works with the players.
”There are penalties for players who’re habitual criminals, that give away penalties all the time. To get in a game like this and give away penalties is really disappointing… we’re shooting ourselves in the foot, we’re putting ourselves under pressure.”
The Springboks were due to fly to New Zealand on Monday for their final Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks next Saturday at Dunedin. – Sapa-AP