Cheetahs centre Andries Strauss has been cited and suspended for 2 weeks for foul play in the Super Rugby match between the Lions and the Cheetahs in Johannesburg on Saturday.
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Strauss was shown both a yellow card and a white card for a tip-tackle on Lions forward Wikus van Heerden in the 12th minute of the match by referee Mark Lawrence.
A white card is part of an experimental system being used by SANZAR this season, and puts a player ‘on report’ for suspected foul play to be referred to a citing commissioner for another look.
The 27-year-old broke law 10.4 (j) by lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground.
Van Heerden was lifted past the horizontal and driven into the ground head first during the incident.
SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Mike Heron accepted a guilty plea to the citing from Strauss, and confirmed that he had no previous disciplinary matters and was very remorseful.
Heron stated that: “The player had been in contact with the Lions player (Van Heerden) and stated that he had apologised to him. Strauss’ understood from Van Heerden directly he had suffered a concussion.
“I determined that the tackle was in breach of 10.4(j) but that it was not executed intentionally – it appeared to me that the player did not intend to drive van Heerden into the ground, rather having tipped him, he failed to get him to the ground safely.
“As has been stated in previous seasons, these tackles are unacceptable and dangerous. The player, by his admission, immediately accepted that. Taking into account all the circumstances, I am satisfied that the appropriate entry point is lower end, meaning a starting point of three weeks suspension. The injury to Van Heerden and the need for deterrent takes the penalty higher by a week. Then applying the full discount for the immediate plea of guilty (25%) and a further week discount for the remorse shown and exemplary character outlined to me.
“That results in a penalty of two weeks. The player is therefore suspended from all forms of the game for two weeks, to and including 11 March 2012.”
I expected it all along… he should get a couple of weeks.
Two weeks confirmed! Strauss suspended till 11th March! Well opportunity for Phillip Snyman to strut his stuff vs the Bullies.
Wish they would red card Mark Lawrence for ruining a spectacle!
Interesting question asked at the presser last night – can a player appeal a white card. There was no definitive answer.
One thing that I really don’t understand.
A directive was given to referees to strictly police the breakdown this year, and subsequently ATTACKING sides were continually penalised the whole weekend.
However, 2 seasons ago a directive was given that tip tackles should be an automatic RED CARD, yet this directive has NEVER BEEN STRICTLY ADHERED TO.
If this tackle by Strauss had happened in the 70th minute, my guess is that he would have received a red card, but it seems that ref’s are sh1t scared of “spoiling the game” by sending someone off early in the game, but they’re more than prepared to TOTALLY SPOIUL A GAME BY BLOWING IT TO DEATH ON TECHNICAL INFRINGEMENTS.
Where is the logic?
To a man in the Media box on Saturday night, everyone agreed that the referee spoiled the game and that those present wouldn’t spend money on a ticket if that was to be the norm.
I guess it’s no use complaining though, because historically the ref’s have shown that they don’t give a toss what the public think of their ideas.
@ Scrumdown #4
Amen to that! Lawrence toatlly raped what could have been a spectacle. I was bored outta my mind, the players hardly touched the ball and his shrill blast went! I was counting a penalty every 2 – 3 minutes!
He didn’t contribute to the Cheetahs demise, except for the yellow shown to Goosen, but he totally ruined the match!
@ Cheetah4eva:
Both coaches were VERY diplomatic and chose not to say a word about the refereeing on the night, rathing taking the cop out by saying they would have to look at the video.
Lions have a major problem at hooker if Visagie can’t get the trow in right.
I think we may see Bezuidenhout start on Friday.
Strauss for the Cheetahs had a big game. Sh1t he must feel aggrieved that he has to play second fiddle to Chiiliboy for National honours. Not that I think Chilliboy is a k@k hooker, just that IMO Strauss just brings so much more physicality to a side.
If he get’s ignored this season (by Meyer) I wouldn’t be surprised he he headed to Europe.
@ Scrumdown,
What was your opinion on Goosen’s performance? I think for a youngster, taking his 1st steps on the big stage, he was pretty composed. he can do better imho.
@ Cheetah4eva:
I think that Goosen is the real deal.
@ Loosehead,
Agreed, I think he will only get better and better. He plays very instinctively, and they mustn’t try and coach it out of him! He ias just fearless, and gets injured often.
@ Cheetah4eva:
I think Goosen has a tremendous future. He can certainly give the ball a tremendous hoof.
Why would you want to coach any instintiveness out of him?
Surely that was 90% of the problems with the Boks over the last few years. If the game plan wasn’t working they were basically like rabbits in the headlights and didn’t have a clue what to do.
IMO a player who CAN play to his instincts will have a better chance of adapring in situations like that. But hey that’s just my opinion. WTF do I know.
By the way, Naka was somewhat critical of his senior players for not controlling the game better on Saturday. While he admitted that the youngsters had made a couple of errors here and there, he was of the opinion that the senior players didn’t do enough.
@ Scrumdown,
I think you misread my post! They must please not try and coach a pattern into Goosen!
@ Scrumdown:
I was baying for a red, but some guys predicted a yellow. From then I was insenced with Lawrences reffing. It seemed that he had a bad itch under both armpits, and at times it seemed everything went against the Lions. But everytime there was a ruck, he blew.
@ Cheetah4eva:
Your right. Old and tired eyes that misread even on a 27″ monitor. Apologies.
@ Lion4ever:
Not Mr Lawrence’s finest hour (or 80 minutes) I’m afraid.
Link that to his last game in CC where he missed a knock on bigger than the Drakensberg Mountain Range, and…. well you get the drift.
@ Scrumdown,
No worries at all, it happens to us all lol.
Maybe he should speak to one his peers and have his eyes checked.
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