Is it Justice or Just us?

The IRB’s Independent Committee has fined SARU R130 000, captain John Smit will have to pay R13 000, and each Springbok player was also fined R2600 for the Springboks wearing armbands demanding ‘Justice 4 Bakkies’ in the third Test against the B&I Lions.The Boks were incensed at their ongoing victimization by the IRB, who had suspended Bakkies Botha for three weeks for legitimately clearing a ruck during the second Test .
The Independent Committee added that had it not been for legal technicalities, Saru could have faced a more severe fine while the Springbok players and management could have been banned from the 2011 World Cup.These ‘legal technicalities’ turned out to be that it wasn’t the match citing commissioner or the IRB that brought the charge against the Springboks -  it was in fact the IRB Chief Executive Mr Mike Millar who overstepped his authority by personally laying the charge. His actions were in direct contravention of the IRB laws and Regulations which state that the match citing commissioner is the only person who can make such charges and would have had to do so on the match day or within 12 hours.

The independent disciplinary committee found the actions of the IRB Chief Executive contrary to the IRB laws and had no option but to use the lesser charge or less serious charge of bringing the game into disrepute. In fact Mr Millar’s actions were exponentially more illegal than Mr Botha’s.

The announcement of the punishment was conveniently delayed until the furore over the non-citing of Australian Matt Giteau for his late elbow charge to the face of Springbok Fourie Du Preez had blown over.

We don’t condone the wearing of the armbands as a form of protest but can understand the frustration of the Boks at the weak leadership of SARU. The organization under Hoskins does not impose themselves on the IRB as strongly as the Aussies, Kiwis and English, leaving the Boks with no legitimate avenues of protest.

The South African Rugby Legends Association under John Allen has stepped in to settle the hefty fine imposed by the IRB on the Springboks. Allan confirmed that the association was unhappy with the manner in which the IRB had punished Saru and will therefore pay the debt. He believes the IRB’s ruling is unfair and lamented the union for their inconsistent citing.

‘We are here to safeguard rugby’s values and believe the IRB are targeting the Springboks,’ Allan told Volksblad. ‘The Springboks are the best team in the world because they stick together and the IRB do not like it.

‘Bakkies is punished, but Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau, who took Fourie du Preez out, is not.’