Anyone else notice this re the Steyn citing

[Sneeky]

Saw this today and cannot help but wonder what the hell is going on.

All relating to the citing of Francios Steyn

In essence, the hearing was conducted with no evidence, and a witness who contradicted himself. As one observer noted: "Looks like a stitch-up job if I've ever seen one."

Late on Monday night, a member of the Springbok management received a phone call from a Tongan team official to "apologise" for the citing of Steyn.
The official implied that they had not wanted to cite Steyn, but that they had had their hand forced.
He did not elaborate as to who had applied the pressure, but the manner in which the judicial hearings have been conducted at the tournament thus far suggests that some of the teams are more equal than others here.

Oh deary me, this really does not sound good.

Then considering the other incedents in the tournament

All Black prop Carl Hayman has escaped being cited for punching, and Wallaby Drew Mitchell never heard another word after his spear tackle against Wales - despite a player from the US receiving a five-match ban for the same thing. There were similar let-offs for Wallaby Stephen Moore and Wales's Gareth Thomas.

Burger got 4 weeks initially for going for the ball remember, later reduced to 2, still a travesty of justice.

The clincher when remembering the teams comments that their hand was forced to cite Steyn

The citing is all the more sinister, considering the words of Tonga coach Quddus Fielea and his captain, Nili Latu, who said after their match against the Springboks in Lens that they would not be asking the citing commissioner, Jean-Claude Legendre, to look at any incidents in the game.

What the heck is going on?
more in the article.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=3044&art_id=vn20070926065322463C497777

 

[remybfg10k]

"Burger got 4 weeks initially for going for the ball remember"

He didnt get banned for "initially going for the ball" he was banned for a dangerous tackle, doesn't matter if he did the macarena or sang a love song before he tackled Junior, he still tackled him dangerously.

Its not a travesty, its the inconsistency thats the travesty.

 

[Sneeky]

I disagree, he was in mid air contesting the ball, the opponent copped one as he was in the mans path, such is rugby. What made it stand out is that is was David vs Goliath.
Poor lil Samoan.

 

[werries2]

I disagree, he was in mid air contesting the ball, the opponent copped one as he was in the mans path, such is rugby. What made it stand out is that is was David vs Goliath.
Poor lil Samoan.

If he actualy ended up with the ball there would have been no problems.

 

[Pitbull]

I agree with the ban of Burger...

However I would say 1 week was fair.. 4 weeks WTF ?

That being said. The ref saw it happen and did nothing, so since when does the Citing official over rule the Ref ? IMHO if a ref calls it to be a penalty only that is where it should stay. Citing should be for of the ball incidents, the ones the ref didn't see. It's always been like that, I have no idea what has changed in the RWC

 

[McSack]

Northern Hemisphere teams are trying to turn rugby into a pussie sport like soccer