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From Rugby Heaven
The Springboks used rough-house tactics to try to unsettle Wallabies breakaway George Smith throughout Saturday's Test in Sydney, according to teammate Stephen Hoiles.
"A few of them spent a bit of time trying to target him because he got a bit of special attention throughout the night," the back-rower said yesterday.
"They were having a go at him a bit more than usual. It looked like he was getting a few niggles at the bottom of the rucks and mauls and stuff.
"But then, he is one of the world's best ball-stealers. I am sure he expects it when he gets out there. And he wasn't reacting too much."
Hoiles said the Test was as physical and bruising as expected - especially with the Springboks fuelled by the negative publicity that welcomed them after arriving in Australia without their top 20 players.
"It was quite a niggly Test, not dirty play, but just a little off the ball [incidents] here and there and a few scuffles," he said. "But it was nothing that doesn't happen in any game. I don't think there was anything out there that should have been cited. They were big and physical and pretty passionate. And that's how they play."
The two most heated moments involving Smith came within a minute of each other and just after Hoiles had left the field to be replaced by David Lyons.
In the 66th minute, Smith was involved in an altercation with Springbok prop CJ van der Linde as the pair tried to escape from a maul. Smith lashed out as he tried to break free of 122kg van der Linde's grip. It was initially suspected that van der Linde then eye-gouged Smith - as suggested by the photograph shot by the Herald's Tim Clayton.
Referee Paul Honiss of New Zealand awarded Australia a penalty, but Test citing commissioner Michael O'Leary ruled that no action would be taken against van der Linde after he reviewed footage of the incident immediately after the game.
Both Wallabies coach John Connolly and forwards coach Michael Foley did not want to take the matter further.
One phase after that incident, Smith was suspected of a high tackle on Springboks second-rower Johan Muller. However, Honiss called "play on" and O'Leary later ruled that no action should be taken against the Australian loose forward, who was replaced by Phil Waugh six minutes later, in the 72nd minute.
"The citing commissioner looked at both incidents post game from every angle and corner. As well, he reviewed three other incidents in the game," said SANZAR tournament director Peter Rowles yesterday.
"It was felt that neither [of the incidents involving Smith] warranted a send-off. So the reaction of the referee in both cases was deemed sufficient."
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