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Dublin - Now it is the Springboks to accuse the Irish of eye gouging.
The Springboks have issued a request to match citing commisioner, Douglas Hunter from Scotland, reporting an instance of alleged eye gouging against Irish eighth man, Jamie Heaslip, who they believe to have put his finger in Heinrich Brüssow's eye. The incident took place in the first half of the match between the Springboks and Ireland on Saturday at Croke Park.
The request from the Bok camp does not necessarily mean that it will be investigated.
Eye gouging is an emotional subject in Ireland given that Springbok flank, Schalk Burger was banned for eight weeks in July after being found guilty of making "improper contact" with Irish player Luke Fitzgerald's eyes during the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
Burger's misdeads have been highlighted on a daily basis by the local media and he was loudly jeered when his name was read out before the match.
He had the crowd silenced for a moment with an early try in the match, and also kicked the ball into the crowd, but eventually the Springboks could not keep their effort alive and were caught from behind for the fourth time on this tour after being ahead at halftime.
"It is fatigue. Our players are cooked," said Bok coach, Pieter de Villiers afterwards.
"We have no excuses. The Irish took their chances and kicked their penalties. We did not. However, there is a spark that is lacking in the team and it is due to exhaustion after a long season" Said De Villiers.
The normally exceptionally reliable Morné Steyn let the team down this time round – missing four kicks and pulling a drop goal attempt wide, but De Villiers was still a satisfied coach.
"We brought young players on the tour and they have developed. The result was not good enough, but the Test served its purpose," he said.
The Springboks were named as the team of the year by the International Rugby Board, but De Villiers was overlooked as the coach of the year. Declan Kidney from Ireland took this award, while and Richie McCaw was surprisingly chosen ahead Fourie du Preez and Brian O'Driscoll as the player of the year.
The Springboks' defeat to Ireland was their fourth this year, but only one of them, against the Lions in the third Test of the series, took place in South Africa.
The team have conceded their number one IRB ranking to New Zealand, but are still regarded by many as the best rugby team in the world after excellent performances earlier this year which included a series victory against the Lions and the Tri Nations title.
Dublin - Now it is the Springboks to accuse the Irish of eye gouging.
The Springboks have issued a request to match citing commisioner, Douglas Hunter from Scotland, reporting an instance of alleged eye gouging against Irish eighth man, Jamie Heaslip, who they believe to have put his finger in Heinrich Brüssow's eye. The incident took place in the first half of the match between the Springboks and Ireland on Saturday at Croke Park.
The request from the Bok camp does not necessarily mean that it will be investigated.
Eye gouging is an emotional subject in Ireland given that Springbok flank, Schalk Burger was banned for eight weeks in July after being found guilty of making "improper contact" with Irish player Luke Fitzgerald's eyes during the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
Burger's misdeads have been highlighted on a daily basis by the local media and he was loudly jeered when his name was read out before the match.
He had the crowd silenced for a moment with an early try in the match, and also kicked the ball into the crowd, but eventually the Springboks could not keep their effort alive and were caught from behind for the fourth time on this tour after being ahead at halftime.
"It is fatigue. Our players are cooked," said Bok coach, Pieter de Villiers afterwards.
"We have no excuses. The Irish took their chances and kicked their penalties. We did not. However, there is a spark that is lacking in the team and it is due to exhaustion after a long season" Said De Villiers.
The normally exceptionally reliable Morné Steyn let the team down this time round – missing four kicks and pulling a drop goal attempt wide, but De Villiers was still a satisfied coach.
"We brought young players on the tour and they have developed. The result was not good enough, but the Test served its purpose," he said.
The Springboks were named as the team of the year by the International Rugby Board, but De Villiers was overlooked as the coach of the year. Declan Kidney from Ireland took this award, while and Richie McCaw was surprisingly chosen ahead Fourie du Preez and Brian O'Driscoll as the player of the year.
The Springboks' defeat to Ireland was their fourth this year, but only one of them, against the Lions in the third Test of the series, took place in South Africa.
The team have conceded their number one IRB ranking to New Zealand, but are still regarded by many as the best rugby team in the world after excellent performances earlier this year which included a series victory against the Lions and the Tri Nations title.
