Bok biting scandal - or misleading picture?

Cape Town - An English tabloid has suggested that Springbok prop Frans Malherbe could be in hot water after their Rugby World Cup win over the USA on Wednesday night.

Images and an article published on the Daily Mail website shows Malherbe with his mouth on the upper arm of American lock Matt Trouville. A bite - or just a misleading photograph?

It is hard to determine exactly what happened in the photograph taken by Sportsmail's Kevin Quigley, but the article said that the photograph "appears to show Springbok prop Frans Malherbe sinking his teeth into the shoulder of American lock Matt Trouville."

Quigley tweeted a picture of the incident:

Not sure what is happening here is this a bite? more on @MailSport http://t.co/4v2bkWBmGY pic.twitter.com/594CTkdUGg

— Kevin Quigley (@KevinQuigley_DM) October 7, 2015

The article adds that Trouville had no recollection of the incident after the match, while a press officer said that the matter would now be in the hands of the citing officials. 

Malherbe's performance at scrum time received high praise from all corners, and he is now putting serious pressure on Jannie du Plessis for a start at tighthead in the quarter-finals. 

The Boks beat the USA 64-0 and will now face the loser of Saturday's match between Wales and Australia in the quarter-finals. 

PICTURES: DID MALHERBE BITE A USA PLAYER?