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Bismarck stamp. Accidental???

Cape Town - Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis has been cleared to play in the Currie Cup final against Western Province on Saturday after being found NOT guilty of a stamp on Free State Cheetahs flank Lappies Labuschagné in their semi-final in Durban last weekend.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH BISMARCK DU PLESSIS STAMP ON LAPPIES LABUSCHAGNE

Outrage at advocate André Oosthuizen's decision to clear Du Plessis has been rife since his decision was made public earlier on Tuesday.

Oosthuizen ruled that based on the facts placed before him by the player and the assistant referee Cobus Wessels, as well as the video footage viewed during the enquiry, the contact Du Plessis made with Labuschagné was ACCIDENTAL

Looking at replays of the incident it's impossible to believe the incident was accidental. Du Plessis initially attempts to punch/slap Labuschagné, but his efforts are blocked. He then stands up, looks directly at the prone Labuschagné and stamps on his chest - ALL the while with direct eye contact on the player.

Du Plessis received a yellow card in the 65th minute of the match for the incident - a match the Sharks were well on the way to winning.

Du Plessis' clearing will go a long way to helping the Sharks regain the Currie Cup title.

Earlier this season, WP flank Michael Rhodes was red-carded AND banned for one week for a similar offence.

SuperSport scribe Brenden Nel was quick to offer his views on Twitter.

While it is good for the final and the contest you have to wonder why we always are aggrieved at sanzar and irb judiciaries.

We sweep these matters under the carpet - like schalk vd merwe last week - when the irb and sanzar are less lenient.

I like Bismarck but to say that was accidental is a bit of a joke. Whether it breached the red card threshold is what the real question


Respected journalist Gary Lemke also weighed in.

Bismarck cleared to play CC final. imagine the SA outcry if McCaw had stamped a Bok and been cleared to play again the next week

You get a sense Saru were undone by the occasion. in a "normal" week they would have suspended him


SA Rugby mag's Jon Cardinelli even went as far to put his thoughts into a column...

Sport24 readers were also outraged by the decision.

How can Advocate André Oosthuizen reserve his judgment for another day when he knew exactly what his finding would be. Bismarck got a yellow based on the findings of the match referee and was cited for further punishment. Based on the video evidence, just like Michael Rhodes, I don’t think the intent is to injure an opposing player but nevertheless Michael got a week and Bismarck gets no further punishment. That smacks of being biased and clearly not the same law being applied. All rugby loving people should get a petition to get these type of offences to be put through a panel and not just an individual who has clearly been pressurized for his decision. Tired of bullshit. - Jose Henriques

Why was Michael Rhodes red carded - what was the difference? Has this something to do with the Curry Cup Final match? I dont think this is fair and  what about being consistent. - Jeanette Lubbe

The Bismarck stamping incident may have been accidental, but I feel that the SARU judicial committees should be consistent when they make decisions. In Micheal Rhodes’ case the judicial officer, Peter Ingwersen, ruled that although there was no intent by Rhodes to stamp on the side of Ross’ face as he was being pulled down in a tackle at the time and tried to regain his balance, there was sufficient negligence to find the player guilty of transgressing Law 10.4 (b). The law states that a player may not stamp on an opponent. In both instances there were stamping, and in both instances there were no intention to stamp on the opponent. Why should Bismarck be treated differently than Rhodes? Stamping is stamping. - Leon Marais

HE CAN COUNT HIMSELF VERY VERY LUCKY !!! - Marietjie

Unfair just bc his a bok he can stamp on someone an gets away with it.micheal rhodes got a red card an was banned for the same thing. - deond8

While lying on the ground Bismark tried to hit Freestate player with knee and missed and when he got up it eas very clear that he stamp on the player on the ground. - spandauspar
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