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'Bent' science cost Boks

Cape Town - Just as the dust started to settle on the unsuccessful defence by the Springboks of their Rugby World Cup title, respected sports science guru, Professor Tim Noakes has dropped another bombshell.

In a letter addressed to the Cape Times, Noakes suggested that the result of the World Cup quarter-final between South Africa and Australia was predetermined as a result of what he called 'bent' science.

“When science is manipulated to produce a predetermined outcome, it’s called 'bent' science. Such science is usually directed by large commercial interest. When the outcome of a sporting event is predetermined, we call it ‘match-fixing,’ Noakes wrote in the letter.

“I am not saying that there was match-fixing, I am saying that the IRB must prove there wasn’t,” Noakes added.

Noakes lamented that South Africans have been unjustly robbed of their World Cup crown and based on the evidence of the match, he does not have a doubt that referee, Bryce Lawrence was benefitting from the outcome of the match.

“Referee (Bryce) Lawrence’s selective inability to apply to the illegal actions of one team, the accepted rugby laws in at least three areas of the game can unfortunately be interpreted in only one way - that he was benefitting from it personally by ensuring that the Wallabies would win this ‘bent’ game,” Noakes added.

"I think an injustice has been done and South Africa as a nation deserves the truth."

Noakes went onto say that match fixing should not be ruled out as a possibility in rugby as it is already prevalent in cricket as well as football.

“The tragedy of this travesty is that it has undermined the legitimacy of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and has done severe damage to the credibility of the IRB. But worse, it has also robbed the South African rugby team of their legitimate chance for immortality by winning back-to-back RWC’s.”

* Click HERE for the latest RWC odds on BET.CO.ZA
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