Lions in SA
Smit: I hope we're all good
2009-07-03 21:04
Email | Print
Bok captain John Smit (Gallo)
Johannesburg - The two-week ban on Springbok lock Bakkies Botha could change the nature of rugby, South African captain John Smit said on Friday.
"We are deeply saddened and angered more than anything else by the outcome of the Bakkies Botha appeal," Smit told a news conference.
"I hope and pray it's just a case of Bakkies being victimised. If it's not, then it could change this wonderful game we play."
Botha was suspended for a dangerous charge on British and Irish Lions prop Adam Jones in the second Test that left the Welshman with a dislocated shoulder. Botha lost his appeal against the ban and will miss the final Test on Saturday.
Springboks flanker Schalk Burger received an eight-week ban after the game for unsportsmanlike behaviour
South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after winning a brutal encounter in Pretoria 28-25.
Smit said the incident that led to Botha's suspension was part and parcel of every rugby game and the decision could set an unwanted precedent.
"Sanity did not prevail at the appeal and I've had referees phoning me, and support from the Lions management and players that it is very concerning for the future of the game.
"Unfortunately Adam Jones got injured purely because his arm was stuck in the ruck. If Bryan Habana is running down the wing as fast as a cheetah, it would be really poor for the game to make him slow down in case he hurts the tackler."
Smit, who captained South Africa to World Cup glory in 2007, said he expected Saturday's Test to be an excellent contest and hoped it would be played in a good spirit.
"I sincerely hope there's no bad blood between the two teams. Rugby's all about running into each other at a million miles an hour and tackling each other at a million miles an hour, stitching oneself up afterwards and sharing a beer," Smit said.
"There is still a massive amount for us to play for because we don't get the opportunity to play against the Lions for another 12 years.
"It's been a phenomenal series, although it's probably easier for me to say that as the captain that's won."
Lions assistant coach Warren Gatland said the tourists did not believe Botha should have been cited.
"We didn't have an issue with Bakkies Botha, it was a very tough decision on him," Gatland told a news conference on Friday. "Adam Jones did not have an issue with the clean-out and neither did the Lions management.
"If Bakkies could be banned for that then you would have 50 incidents in a game. Bakkies has a history of occasionally not using his arms but we had no problem with that incident, we felt it was legitimate," Gatland said.