Bakkies Botha will miss the rest of the Tri-Nations after receiving a nine-week suspension for headbutting the New Zealand scrum-half Jimmy Cowan in the first minute of yesterday's Tri-Nations match in Auckland. It is the fourth ban the South Africa second row has received for foul play in the last 15 months and such recurring indiscipline could threaten his international career.
At the time, Botha got away with his contact on the back of Cowan's head, which was retribution for being tugged back off the ball after the scrum-half's kick had been charged down. He was cited after the match. He was sent to the sin-bin after 13 minutes for killing the ball on his line and he was substituted six minutes into the second half.
"The sin-binning was very silly. Discipline wins and loses you Test matches," said the South Africa captain, John Smit. The way Smit remonstrated with the referee, Alan Lewis, after Botha's yellow card suggested he appreciated how the second-row's reputation can count against him. The match officials missed the headbutt on Cowan but it was instantly replayed on the big screen at the ground.
"I sincerely regret the incident," said Botha, who has been warned by his employers that his international future was on the line. "I have let my team, my country and my family down. I have done an injustice to the Springbok jersey and what it stands for. I apologise to Jimmy Cowan and the New Zealand rugby public for what happened. I truly regret my actions and will make sure that I put my extended time away from the game to positive use and return with the right attitude."
The New Zealand coach, Graham Henry, felt that Botha was fortunate not to receive a longer ban. The offence was deemed to be mid-range in terms of intent. Had it been considered to be calculated, Botha, who will return to action after the end of the Tri-Nations on 4 September, would also have missed South Africa's November tour to Europe. "Botha has got a history," said Henry. "He's probably lucky that he did not get more than nine weeks. It was one of those things that happens in a match which is not part of the game and it has been dealt with correctly. We just have to focus on this weekend's game against South Africa in Wellington: we are surprised by the magnitude of Saturday's result. The scoreline was blown out of proportion and I am sure things will be more realistic next week."
New Zealand, who lost all three matches to South Africa last year, collected a bonus point by scoring four tries, two in each half, while the Springboks mustered four Morne Steyn penalties and rarely threatened the All Black line. They were beaten in every area of the game. Lacking a foundation at the set-pieces, they were overrun at the breakdown and found themselves defending behind their gain line. They also provided too many opportunities to counter-attack through poorly directed kicking out of hand.
"There is no need to panic," said the South Africa coach, Peter de Villiers. "There is nothing that we cannot fix. We played too much rugby in our own half and we did not have the aggression that the All Blacks showed. If we allow them to compete with us physically and win the contests, we will pay the price."
New Zealand Muliaina; Jane, Smith, Nonu, Rokocoko (Kahui, 58); Carter, Cowan (Weepu, 54); Woodcock, Mealamu (Flynn, 78), O Franks (B Franks, 64), Thorn, Donnelly (Whitelock, 72), Kaino (Messam, 72), McCaw (capt), Read.
Tries Smith, Nonu, Read, Woodcock Cons Carter 3 Pens Carter 2.
South Africa Kirchner; De Villiers, Fourie, Olivier (Aplon, 72), Habana; Steyn (James, 70), Januarie (Pienaar, 75); Steenkamp, Smit (capt; Ralepelle, 72), Du Plessis (BJ Botha, 58), B Botha (Bekker, 51), Matfield, Louw (Rossouw, 51), Burger, Spies.
Pens Steyn 4.
Sin-bin B Botha, 13.
Referee A Lewis (Ireland). Attendance 25,000.
