Lions in SA
McGeechan shocked by Div
2009-06-28 22:56
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Schalk Burger gets his marching orders. (Gallo Images)
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Stephen NellPretoria – The British and Irish Lions coach, Ian McGeechan on Sunday took a swipe at Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, for his comment suggesting that Schalk Burger didn’t deserve a yellow card in Saturday’s Test at Loftus Versfeld.
Burger was scheduled to appear at a Sunday disciplinary hearing (and subsequently received an eight week suspension, but this was written prior to the hearing - Ed) about an alleged eye gouging incident on the Lions wing, Luke Fitzgerald, within the first minute of the game. De Villiers immediately after the Test said the incident had not warranted a card.
“I would be disappointed if that was what he said. I can’t see how something like this could be part of the game. It is definitely not part of the game with which I want to be associated,” said McGeechan.
“Now that I have had the chance to study the visual material, I have to say I can’t condone such incidents. As I understand it, eye gouging should automatically mean a red card.”
South Africa were trailing 8-19 after Stephen Jones’s penalty kick in the 60th minute, but thanks to brilliant play by substitutes Morné Steyn, Jaque Fourie and Heinrich Brüssow, managed to win the match and series.
McGeechan believes the Lions had a share in the physical intensity of the Test, but that they tried to stay within the rules.
“We tried to keep our focus and discipline right to the end. It was a physical contest. We could only enforce our pattern of play by not taking a backward step,” said the Lions coach.
He believes the serious injuries to props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones in the 46th minute, were critical turning points, rather than the altitude.
Centres, Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll, were also taken off in the second half.
“The uncontested scrums definitely didn’t help us. You try to exhaust the Bok forwards in more than one way.”
Fitzgerald also expressed shock at the Burger incident.
“I was shocked that someone of Schalk’s stature would do something like this. If the referee decided to card him, it should’ve been a red one. It was probably just a case that it was at the beginning of the Test and that he didn’t want to ruin the match showpiece,” said Fitzgerald to Sky-sports.com.