Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill is to demand South Africa probe new allegations of biting by Springbok forward Bakkies Botha.
O’Neill told The Daily Telegraph he wants action taken after revelations that Botha allegedly told team management he bit Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon during a Tri-Nations Test in Brisbane last month.
Cannon made the accusation post-match and displayed a mark on his shoulder.
He also claimed Botha eye-gouged him after Cannon retaliated to the bite with a punch. In the fallout, Botha was cited for attacking Cannon’s face and received an eight-week ban.
He was not found guilty of gouging while insufficient video evidence prevented a biting charge being laid.
South African team management vehemently denied the biting and gouging allegations. But O’Neill received an assurance from South African MD Rian Oberholzer that if further evidence could be produced, the offender would be punished.
According to O’Neill, that fresh material has now surfaced via former Boks media manager Mark Keohane, who claims Botha confessed he did bite Cannon.
On the International Rugby Board’s recommended sanctions list, biting carries a suspension of three to 36 months.
”I’ll be following it up,” said O’Neill. ”I’ll be asking the question in light of the veracity of Keohane’s accusations.
”I understand the major [race row] controversy Rian is handling at the moment. So I’m conscious of what he’s got on his plate. But I’m equally sure he’ll live up to his commitment.
”Rian told me if there was evidence of a biter in their team he would out him.
”And now that Keohane’s claims have been dumped in the public arena I’m duly obliged to ask the question.” — Sapa-AFP