Botha receives nine-week ban

Wellington - South Africa lock Bakkies Botha will miss the rest of the Tri-Nations after being suspended for nine weeks for headbutting All Black scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan.

Video: Bakkies headbutts Cowan

Botha was suspended by SANZAR judicial officer Dennis Wheelahan on Sunday after a hearing in Auckland. He is not eligible to play again until after September 4, the same date as South Africa's final Tri-Nations match against Australia.

Botha had been cited after the All Blacks beat South Africa 32-12 in the opening match of the Tri-Nations at Eden Park on Saturday.

Irish referee Alan Lewis missed the incident which happened in a tackle after Cowan had tugged at Botha's jersey as both were chasing a loose ball.

Television replays showed Botha appearing to pause after completing a tackle on Cowan before launching himself at the back of the scrumhalf's head.

SANZAR, the competition's ruling body, said Wheelahan had deemed the offence to be in the middle range of seriousness, but had also considered the South African's record of past offences when deciding the punishment.

Botha was suspended last year for two weeks for a dangerous charge on British and Irish Lions prop Adam Jones and was handed an eight-week ban for "attacking the face" of Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon in 2003.

Botha also received a four-week suspension during this year's Super 14 for recklessly charging into a ruck.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry, who was visibly angry at the incident with Cowan after the match, said he was not surprised at the length of the ban.

"He's got a history. He's probably lucky he didn't get more than nine weeks," Henry told reporters in Auckland on Sunday.

"It was just one of those things that happens in a game which is not part of the game and has been dealt with correctly."