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Mealamu ban surprises Bakkies

Adnaan Mohamed - Son

Cardiff -  Springbok lock Bakkies Botha says he was surprised that All Black hooker Keven Mealamu only received a two week suspension for a head butt on England captain Lewis Moody, in last week’s test match at Twickenham.

Mealamu was initially suspended for four weeks, but the suspension was reduced from four to two weeks after an appeal.

Botha was suspended for nine weeks for the same offence after he was found guilty of head butting All Black scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan in the Tri-Nations clash against the All Blacks in Auckland earlier this year.

“I don’t think there is any difference in what Mealamu did and the offence for which I was suspended. The video clearly shows that it was from behind and he definitely head butted the England captain.

“I was very surprised that Mealamu was only suspended for two weeks. It’s astonishing, but that is a battle that they have to fight,” Botha said after the Boks had beaten Wales 29-25 at Millennium stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

The fiery Blue Bulls-lock said all he can do is to give his best for the Boks especially on the Grand Slam tour. He also has to look at the bigger picture.

“Right now I am just looking forward to Scotland next week. I want to channel all my energy for the good of the team and really want to make a difference,” he said.

Botha said it was a difficult year for him, but he has learnt control his aggression on the rugby field.

“The players are still taunting me on the field. They pull my jersey and I get an elbow here and there.  On Saturday there were one or two incidents where players targeted me at the ruckks, but I learnt a big lesson from the Jimmmy Cowan incident.

“I cleaned Mike Phillips (the Welsh scrumhalf) at a ruck on Saturday. He just winked at me blew me a kiss. I found this to be very funny and just had to laugh.

“My temper is under control and  I want to set an example for the younger players at home. 

"I chatted to my son, Makkies, who is only three years old, on Saturday morning. He told me that he is not going to sleep because he wants to watch the rugby.

"It is important to be and ambassador for your country. I have made mistakes in my life and I would like to rectify matters,” added Botha.
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