Steyn facing biting charge

[Burgs]

Steyn facing biting charge

PA Sport
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 - 08:37 AM (AEST)

South Africa back Francois Steyn has been cited following a biting allegation during the Springboks' World Cup victory over Tonga in Lens on Saturday.

Steyn, who came on as a replacement, faces an allegation involving Tonga wing Joseph Vaka.

The 20-year-old Sharks star utility is rated among South Africa's brightest prospects.

But his tournament could be in jeopardy if found guilty of the charge lodged by match citing commissioner Jean-Claude Legendre.

Steyn and the South African management have been informed of the citing, with a disciplinary hearing to be scheduled as soon as practicable.

South Africa is already through to the quarter-finals and coach Jake White is likely to see Steyn as a key player for a potential last-eight clash against Wales in Marseille on October 7.

[The InnFORCEr]

How does that old saying go " where there is smoke"????

[hopep]

The boks have never been a team to worry about 'fair' in rugby.
I still recall an incident in the 1960's. A SA Prop had smeared 'oil of wintergreen' (the active ingredient in dencorub etc.) on his sleeve and rubbed into the Wallabies Props eyes at the first scrum.
Ausssie prop was virtually blind for most of the game.

The more things change ....

[.X.]

Didn't Brendan Cannon get allegedly bitten during a test against the Boks a couple of years ago?

[James]

Yeah I think he was bitten by Bakkies Botha (no surprise really) who has to be the dirtiest rugby player going around. It's funny I read a similar article about the biting charge on Rugby365 which mentioned Botha was very nearby when all this happened.....

[The Lone Hydrangea]

While watching the game, Vaka remonstrated and shown his hand towards the ref. Guilty as charged id suggest.

[tragic]

I'm so completely shocked by this news. Who on this good earth could have predicted such a thing?

[Jehna]

mm biting....classy

[Jethro]

Citing overturned, Steyn found innocent. How about booking the rest of the mongrels on share principal

[Jehna]

As said above
______________________________________________
Boks relieved as Steyn cleared
From correspondents in Paris
September 26, 2007
SOUTH Africa centre Francois Steyn has been cleared of a charge that he bit a Tonga player during a Rugby World Cup Pool A match last weekend.

Steyn was cited by commissioner Jean-Claude Legendre for allegedly biting Tonga No.11 Joseph Vaka in the match at Lens, which South Africa won 30-25. The charge was initiated by Tonga management.

"Following a judicial hearing, the judicial officer, Terry Willis, dismissed the citing complaint against South Africa player," the International Rugby Board said in a statement.

"The judicial officer considered the evidence of Vaka, the Tongan team doctor and DVD clips from the match, together with those supplied by independent broadcasters.

"It was alleged the incident occurred during an altercation involving Tonga and South Africa players in the 62nd minute.

"After hearing the evidence, the judicial officer accepted the explanation by Steyn that the sequence of events was such that he could not have been involved in the contact that led to the alleged mark on Vaka's hand, and accepted the evidence from the Tongan player that it may have happened by accident during the melee."

Agence France-Presse

[Goldmember]

Yeah I think he was bitten by Bakkies Botha (no surprise really) who has to be the dirtiest rugby player going around. It's funny I read a similar article about the biting charge on Rugby365 which mentioned Botha was very nearby when all this happened.....

It's not true! Bakkies is a gentle giant.

[hopep]

somewhat in his defense - I recall a game in Adelaide where an large thugish 2nd rower bleated to the ref that an unnamed hooker had bitten his fingers.

The refs response was immediate and appropriate ... he said "what were you fingers doing near his mouth?". Game moved on.

[.X.]

Crazy Tongan - what was he thinking - biting his own finger like that.