Louis de Villiers

Hamilton – New Zealand confirmed their reputation as bad losers when Springbok centre Jaque Fourie was suspended for four weeks for an alleged spear tackle on Ma’a Nonu in Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test.

All Black lock Brad Thorn was suspended for only a week for a far more serious spear tackle on Bok captain John Smit last year.

Kieran Read, who shoulder-charged Bryan Habana without the ball in Saturday's Test, was not even cited.

The citing commissioner, Scott Nowland, was the same man who suspended Bakkies Botha for legal play against the British and Irish Lions.

Brian O’Driscoll headbutted Danie Rossouw in the same Test without anything being said about the incident.

Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau also tried to inflict an injury on Bok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez in this year’s Tri-Nations, but a yellow card was considered sufficient punishment.

Had they been South Africans, Thorn, Read, Giteau and O’Driscoll would have been suspended for a number of weeks.

It is time for the South African Rugby Union to take issue on the matter with the International Rugby Board.

Meanwhile, the Boks are set to lose two key players in Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn, who are heading for Munster and Racing Metro respectively.

Coach Peter de Villiers understandably does not want to pick overseas-based players, but no other player would have been able to slot the three penalties that Steyn managed on Saturday. De Villiers, for his part, is a general in the side.

Both players are still available for the Boks and it is certainly food for thought for coach De Villiers.

Bok skipper John Smit confirmed he had no intention of hanging up his boots. The manner in which he has adapted to playing tighthead prop, is testimony to his talent and character.