Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been cited for making contact with the "eye or eye area" of Scotland fly-half Greig Laidlaw.
The alleged incident occurred in the second-half of South Africa's 21-10 victory at Murrayfield on Saturday.
21-year-old Etzebeth will appear before an International Rugby Board disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.
South Africa play England at Twickenham on Saturday.
The IRB's recommended sanctions for any player found guilty of 'eye-gouging' range from a low entry point of 12 weeks to a high entry point of 24 weeks with a maximum possible ban of three years.
Meanwhile, Argentina prop Juan Figallo has been cited for head-butting France captain Pascal Pape at the end of the Pumas' 39-22 defeat in Lille on Saturday.
Figallo's hearing is listed for Wednesday. Argentina face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Comments
Spartacus says...
APV1 - whilst I did read your last sentence and realise you were attempting to make a point, it does not undo what you said above it. You have to think that to write it, so the sentiments obviously run deep within you. It is like stabbing someone then saying "Sorry - only joking!". Doesnt wash.
Posted 12:44 20th November 2012
TVaddict says...
@darthbok
Wrong! Someone was blinded by eye gouging only two years ago:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8663226.stm
It's a much worse crime than an shoulder charge as it is a deliberate attempt to blind someone. That is what it should be, a crime. It is planned, malicious, and one of the worse acts in the game. The fact you even defend it means that your the scum of the earth, end of, nothing more to be said. Congrats on your new title.
@gazzabok
Jesus! If some props are your best qualified medical staff you guys are in trouble! (Joke)
Posted 12:15 20th November 2012
APV1 says...
Easy folks. If you read the last sentence:
"Wouldn't it be a shame if we actually thought like that?"
you'd realise I wasn't serious. I was just demonstrating how easy it is to be a twat and it obviously worked.
Perhaps our chum BA will take note and might consider what he writes more next time. I doubt it, but there's a chance...
What was nice was that some of you think I'm usually more reasonable.
Posted 12:01 20th November 2012
knockedon says...
@darthbok
Noone blinded in the past 30 years? Really?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8663226.stm
Anyone reasonable would acknowledge that the overwhelming majority of Saffa players are clean, but getting defensive about the thugs you clearly do have doesn't help your cause. If Etzebeth gouged he should have the book thrown at him, the same as for Richard Loe and not the same as for Schalk Burger.
Posted 11:14 20th November 2012
zambokke says...
I can't remember Etzebeth eye- gouging, but I do remember thinking that he had one of their guys, possibly Laidlaw in one hell of a headlock - the Scottish guy was also stripped of the ball. Gouging is a deliberate action; I have had fingers and nails across my cheeks and eyes many times, but I have never had somebody deliberately try to poke their finger deep into my eye socket. Eyes are on faces, faces are part of th ehaed, the head is always twisting and turning - accidents happen. If he deliberately gouged then ban him, butu innocent until proven guilty in rugby. (Good of APV1 to finally show his colours - D00s)
Posted 10:19 20th November 2012
lawynd says...
APV1 says... "Wouldn't it be a shame if we actually thought like that?"
From unwords - Sarchasm 1. (n.) The abyss between the creator of witticisms and the intended recipient who does not find the humor in it.
Whilst I appreciate that irony and sarcasm don't often translate to the written word, particularly over the internet, it appears that the vast majority of you have not read the entire post and for those of you that are regulars in this little corner, have not taken into account APV1's posting history.
darthbok says... "Ever heard of anyone being blinded by gouging in a match ?? not in the last 3 decades"
I suggest you search for Clarence Harding or Gavin Quinnell...do you perchance live under a rock, as both have been discussed here at length?
Posted 10:16 20th November 2012
Rosbif says...
@all, either some-one stole APV's laptop, or he's had a nervous breakdown, or we are missing the relevance of his last sentence, "Wouldn't it be a shame if we actually thought like that?".
My reading is that APV doesn't actually think like that. He was just showing us how foolish it is to generalise?
Or am I the one drinking the koolaid?
Posted 09:21 20th November 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
Laidlaw must have really cheesed someone off, I noticed a little stamp on his neck when he had just been done for offside that no-one else seemed to notice.
@APV1, in your defence, there seems to have always been a thuggish element in SA rugby which rears its head every now and again. although it seemed to have got better after the Twickenham 2002 nonsense. Bit far to tar all saffers with the same brush though - thinking of Nicky Hambleton-Jones (although one of my dreams had her and a table tennis bat).
Not seen the offence and will stick to my innocent until proven guilty principles. But, if proven, still one of the worst offences in my opinion and book should be thrown.
Posted 08:45 20th November 2012
gazzabok says...
APV1 - Yes, indeed. We are all brawn and no brains. Just like the guy who did the first heart transplant. The lead engineer of the channel tunnel. The inventor of paypal etc etc etc. Hell, even our tighthead props hold doctorates.
Moron.
Posted 08:15 20th November 2012
bloemboy says...
If he is guilty of deliberately gouging, they should ban him for a season at least. I do hope that the IRB start getting tough AND CONSISTENT on thuggery as well as on dangerous play. It can however be quite difficult if contact was made without intent to harm, but I hope they get this one right. Etzbeth is a good enough player to not have to resort to this sort of thing
Posted 07:54 20th November 2012
darthbok says...
I think unless there is some definite injury the ` gouging laws` r a complete joke -- if you look at any rugby match , someone is likely to `make contact with another `s eye area` - and the slow motions make anything look dramatic . Gouging is where someone sticks their fingers in your eye socket and tries to damage your eye . the evidence needs to be overwhelming . far less dangerous than a spear tackle/ shoulder charge or going in with the knee.these can all cause permanent brain/ spinal injury . Ever heard of anyone being blinded by gouging in a match ?? not in the last 3 decades ----------
Posted 07:49 20th November 2012
new_j4a says...
It would break my heart to lose this amazing talent to South African rugby, but if there is a clear case of intentional gouging, then I think a ban of at least a year is appropriate and 2 years would go even further to stamp out this heinous crime.....for that is what it is....an attempt to blind someone. It is time to start the ending of this abomination and although it will feed the conspiracy inbreds like BokAvenger, there is no better time to start than now. (There, I've said it, now I pray he didn't do it)
Posted 06:50 20th November 2012
Voice says...
@ APV - You sound like a narrow minded little brat! What do you know about SAFFAS? You think we all like that? You plonker. If Etzebeth gouged then let the law take its course, do you think that as a SAFFA I dont get upset when our players do this??? It disrupts the entire team and there is no room for this in the game but dont generalise.
Posted 06:45 20th November 2012
tweedledee49 says...
@leebok, or maybe he couldve just NOT eyegouge(that is, if allegations are true) and get 0 weeks? Simple!
Ps. Dont let apv1 get under your skin
Posted 05:10 20th November 2012
missionary says...
Mind you...the IRB are quite lenient on gouging these days. WC final being a prime example. And flying elbows, knees and head butts. Etzebeth should have tried one of those because nothing would have happened to him!
Posted 05:03 20th November 2012
missionary says...
@ leebok. Maybe English isn't your first language, but there was NO trampling / stomping. In reference to your reference of Adam Thomson. Most sane people agree that he should have got two weeks for being dumb.
As for the gouging - I haven't seen the incident so I can't possibly comment (but I will :-)) ...if true, move over Bakkies. Hasn't this boy already been suspended this year v Australia? Let's hope it isn't true.
Posted 05:01 20th November 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi APV1
Up yours too.
Posted 04:56 20th November 2012
waffiloda says...
the whole process is a joke, as are the comments from APV1.
Posted 01:54 20th November 2012
dac247 says...
not a scot or a bok... but gotta say, etzebeth has never come across as dirty... unlike a certain former bok lock who is enjoying the sun in toulon...
Posted 01:38 20th November 2012
rugbyphile says...
Why is PR now a forum for stupid racism? If anyone could be bothered you and some of those posting here could be prosecuted in many countries in the world. Exercise some editorial control.
If Etzebeth is found guilty he will be punished according to the IRB "code" of erratic penalties--if not he will not. About 500 years ago or so wise people involved in justice said "we try the cause--not the person". Amazing how many people still don't get that.
Posted 01:22 20th November 2012