S AFRICA 28, GB & I LIONS 25
Lions robbed by gougers, video ref and sheer brutality
Burger was last night cited for 'acts contrary to the spirit of the game' and faces a disciplinary tribunal today in Pretoria. If found guilty, he faces a minimum 12-week suspension - but could be banned for six months.
Springbok lock Bakkies Botha has also been cited for dangerously charging into Adam Jones. The Welsh prop was forced off with a suspected dislocated shoulder and is one of FIVE British and Irish players who were in hospital last night.
There will be more recriminations from this epic encounter - a contest that stretched nerves and sinews to snapping point.
How was Burger not dismissed for committing the most heinous of crimes? And was the video ref right to award the late Jaque Fourie try after three tortuous minutes of deliberation?
Infuriatingly for Lions, that decision was made by the SAME Aussie official, Stuart Dickinson, who controversially disallowed Mark Cueto's try for England in the 2007 World Cup Final against South Africa. And the video review was called for SAME reason - to see if a foot was in touch before the ball was grounded.
And what happened to Lions' discipline as Ronan O'Gara conceded the penalty that saw Morne Steyn send over the winning 53-metre kick with the last act of a sporting drama unlikely to be equalled this summer?
But there will also be recriminations from an ultimately fateful tour.
Why did the Lions only arrive at altitude less than 24 hours before this second Test kicked off? Why was their preparation for the series marred by facing a succession of barely half-decent teams in empty, echoey stadiums?
Did their timetable ahead of this match mean the second-half collapse and the stream of dazed, dislocated players heading to the sidelines was inevitable?
All will need to be answered when the grim business of the irrelevant third Test is concluded. Because as bravely as the Lions performed, as agonisingly close as they have come in both magnificent matches, the stark fact this morning is that they have lost SEVEN consecutive Tests.
Time for serious reflection, for a serious rethink. But right now, as doctors earn their dough tending to a casualty list that stretches almost from here to Johannesburg, it would be an insult to be too damning of the players who emptied their physical and mental reserves on to the grass of Loftus Versfeld.
Because although they were outscored by three tries to one and capitulated shockingly in the second half, the series would have been level had referee Christophe Berdos had a semblance of bottle.
Burger buried his digits into Fitzgerald's eye sockets after just 40 seconds. It is the offence that is considered unforgiveable in today's rugby.
It is the offence that cost Alan Quinlan his Lions dream. It is an automatic dismissal, yet Burger received only yellow. The only thing yellow was the French ref.
And the series would surely have been level had Gethin Jenkins not had his face split by Bryan Habana's head, had Jones not damaged his shoulder, had Brian O'Driscoll not staggered from the field with barely a single sense intact, had Jamie Roberts not departed in face-contorting agony.
At one point, it looked as though the Lions would simply run out of personnel. It wasn't a bench, it was a casualty ward.
But you cannot get away from the theory that injuries happen through tired vulnerability. And the Lions looked exhausted, just as many thought they would do at 5,000 feet of altitude in the later stages of a high-octane Test.
They could have conserved energy had Burger been sent off but the only benefit they received was Rob Kearney's expertly-worked try. Within seconds of the eye-gouger's return, South Africa had a foothold when JP Pietersen sliced through.
The boot of Stephen Jones - which contributed 20 points to the cause - ensured the Lions held a 16-8 advantage going into the second half. But it was a half that disintegrated to the sound of cracking bones and the sight of flowing blood.
Somehow - through an insane level of commitment - the Lions clung to their lead as though they were protecting cubs.
But their discipline, their gameplan, their ambitious attacking policies were rapidly disappearing into the thin air of the late Pretorian afternoon. One by one, key players surrendered to their screaming bodies.
O'Driscoll's state of being summed it up. Three times he staggered like a drunk desperate for a wall to hold him up. Eventually, even this remarkable player had to be told that it was time to give in.
The Lions never gave in but there was an air of crushing inevitability about the two late Springbok tries.
Habana's effort was a beauty, a shaft of speed through a tangle of legs. And Fourie signalled the start of a tragic cameo from O'Gara by running through him, resisting the attentions of Tommy Bowe and Mike Phillips and letting the man in the stands with the remote control do the rest.
It put the Boks ahead for the first time in the game but another Jones penalty levelled the score . . . until O'Gara's infringement against Fourie du Preez.
The clock had clocked off. An eerie silence dropped like a blanket. The Lions stood - among them Simon Shaw, the 35-year-old who had been colossal in his first Test. But they might as well have been prostrate. Flat out, waiting to see if fate was about to deliver one final crushing blow.
And the boot of Morne Steyn did just that.
They have got many things wrong out here. They agreed to an intinerary that was silly, they missed a welter of chances in the first Test and collapsed in this one. But there was not one single Lion who deserved such cruelty.
SCORERS - South Africa: tries Pietersen, Habana, Fourie. con M Steyn 2. pens F Steyn, M Steyn 2. Lions: tries Kearney. con S Jones. pens S Jones 5. drop goal S Jones.
This article has 45 comments
Hi agree the best team won, but with that said, gouging is not on, we did see it video and yes he did poke him in the eye and thats not on. I teach boys of 14 and 15 years of age and if i saw one of my lads do that they would be out of the game. Lets teach our kids this is not the way to play rugby.
The ref does make mistakes, live with it. And for the scottish stop your moaning ur lads didnt get picked, then ask urself why.
By Anita Taylor. Posted July 19 2009 at 11:49 AM.
South Afircan arrogance? Come on. Get real. By the way why are Australians contributing here. Remember what we did to you in the last Tri Nations at Ellis Park? You are in no position to talk here.
As for the Lions and their supporters. Congratulations on your win. At least the moaning will stop now. The BOKS are however still a better side and are the WORLD CHAMPIONS. The only team that can probably challenge us is the All Blacks!
By zain. Posted July 4 2009 at 6:00 PM.
Well done to the BOKS for winning the series. This last game was merely an experimental game for the Tri Nations.
Now I wonder what the Brit and Irish Media have to say now? You won. I guess there will be no moaning about the Boks now. You only have all sorts of excuses when you lose. We are not sore losers and except the better team won today.
However there is no side but maybe the All Blacks that can beat the Boks. They are the best and are the world champs!!
By zain. Posted July 4 2009 at 5:56 PM.
millions of school boy rugby players and youth teams around the world, would have watched the current world champions SA setting an example how to win important games. how many will follow that example???
By taff. Posted June 30 2009 at 10:51 PM.
the english always mourn from Cueto's try which in my books wasn't to this. Rugby is a physical game, punches are thrown, tempers flaring but when South Africa overcome you guys on everything, you tend to shift blame game. the lions did their job the way any other man would have done out there but hey, they just fall short physically and mentally. they did not bend down for the boks, they front up; good game. you have to accept that there can only be one winner whether cheating or clean game. Springboks came out on top whether you like them or not. the other problem is you guys you play the ref not the game, stop whining and suck it up and man up, keep your heads up, play the game and stop reflecting on wat could have been instead but on what could be! good luck in future games
By branco. Posted June 29 2009 at 3:56 PM.
do they want to play 14 men and win or 15 men and lose ,ask your self the question
By rk. Posted June 29 2009 at 11:57 AM.
yes,yes,yes.Burger was sent off,he got a 8 week ban.end of the day,2-0 to the boks.I dont know why the english are moaning so much,they never had any players out there,OH YES ,sorry let me count them on one hand,the Welsh and Irish made the lions team guys,get over in and where were the scotsman,hmmm!!
By bryan saffa. Posted June 29 2009 at 9:03 AM.
this idiot schalk burger should be banned from all futher matches. the mans an animal. he needs takeing down a peg. how low can you get when a animal like burger plays a gentlemens sport like rugby. i say kick him out NOW
By dr morgan french. Posted June 28 2009 at 11:12 PM.
the lions kicked to much possession away.... never used shane.. didn't even pass to the guy.... my opinon didn't deserve to win series...
By www.artistnealehowells.ds4a.com . Posted June 28 2009 at 10:57 PM.
We got beaten by the better team for sure this week and we only got back into the game last week because they had already taken thier best players off the pitch. Next week the lions wil have to stand up and play better rugby to avoid a three nil thrashing. We cant keep moaning about the ref or injuries we lost the games in other areas, like kicking the ball away to many times, giving away too many penalties, and missing tackles. Im hoping for more from our boys next week!
By big andy. Posted June 28 2009 at 10:32 PM.
Ha Ha Ha British lions. thats what you get for not playing any Scots. Get it right up you
By mike. Posted June 28 2009 at 9:22 PM.
Let's face it, as with any other Lions Tour, if we win we not only have had to have been better players but we also need to have been able to not lose key personnel to the thuggish behaviour that we encounter at every ruck or maul, not to have shown any ounce of indiscipline in facing up to the usual indigenous animals and also have refs with balls that can stand up to the inevitable bias.
No great wonder that when we win, it's such a momentous occasion.
And no small wonder that when we lose, you just have to accept that a miracle hasn't happened and move on.
If I was a Saffa, I'd actually be a bit annoyed that they had to have recourse to most of the above, to beat such a brave team.
It sort of belittles their achievement IMHO.
By TheJackal. Posted June 28 2009 at 9:28 PM.
Oh give me a break...The Lions got exactly what they deserved. What a bunch of dirty players. Well done BOKS....If the LIONS concentrated more on the game instead of how many Bok players they could injure then maybe there wouldnt be so many self inflicted injuries... Pathetic the whole lot of you moaning and trying to find every excuse why the Boks shouldnt have won...Get a life...the point is the Springboks are the best so deal with it.
By sharlene. Posted June 28 2009 at 10:03 PM.
Yeah! We all know what Burger done is a disgrace in the rugby etiquette, as a VERY proud Bok supporter, I would like to admit on behalf of 90% of bok supporters that Burger deserves whats coming & worse.. End of the day its the scoreboard that counts & lets not forget it was a European Ref! Is anything being done about Sheridans bad behaviour on field & do you hear the Boks crying from the hospital wards, this undoubtedly is going to be your excuse for your next loss next week, "a third of our team is being treated in hospital therefore we couldnt play our best team & oh, lets not forget the REF!!! British & Irish Lions with all respect, come prove yourself worthy next week & lose without excuses!
By Chris Bokbfk. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:54 PM.
shalk this shalk that the mans nothing more than athug hiting players on the blindside when they cant defend themselves as for the offishals same old english hating aussie and cowerdley frog ref
By trogan. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:53 PM.
Quite simple really,Burger should have been red carded there is no excuse for what he did.Boks were being outplayed and resorted to win by any means policy.Third try was not a try,linesman bottled making the decision and left it to the TMO who made the wrong call.The evidence was clear there was a foot in touch,linesman was still questioning this after the TMO decision,quite why he didn't flag it initially is beyond me.
By Ian. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:18 PM.
If we can not travel to SA and NZ without getting a fair and sporting chance then perhaps it is time to not bother any more. Its a shame but with O'Driscoll being taken out in the first seconds in NZ and it being swept under the carpet and now this farce with yellow cards for blatant eye gouging. If the man with the video can not confirm either way it should be handed back to the ref and touch judge who clearly thought it wasn't a try. I'm sorry but compare that try to Cueto in the WC final and it just compounds the injustice.
By duncan. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:00 PM.
the lions and their supporters are absolutely unbelievable!! they will NEVER accept defeat gracefully thus they have very bad sportsmanship. yes, the boks AND the lions both played a dirty game. the lions and their supporters will never acknowledge that for the simple fact that they are bad losers. for the australians to comment that we (ie the springboks) are bullies etc etc is quite ironic as they are the worst in the bunch!!!! like gregan said.... next time boys! stop whining like school girls. we'll never hear the end of this and i concur with all the saffa posts on here. if the lions won, it would've been on the front pages of every newspaper, broadcasted on every news channel and yes, there would've been parades and the whole shabang....when they lost, only a few seconds was broadcasted on the news! better luck next time lions!! i will honestly say, it was a nail biter of a game, and yes, even i was scared that the game was already won by the lions in the first half...but our boys fought back! i think the lion supporters should just accept it and steer their eyes towards andy murray for a win!! but oh, i forgot, his a scot!
By tammy. Posted June 28 2009 at 7:10 PM.
Epic game of rugby.Terrible way to lose.O Gara was to windy for their last try and I dont know what he was thinking in the final seconds.I v no grudges against the boks.No point in blaming the ref.Its a pity the final game is going to be a non event.Its going to be very hard to lift the team.
By Seamus Kennedy. Posted June 28 2009 at 6:15 PM.
What a bunch of losers. The jerseys are scarlet but the hearts and minds are yellow. Schalk is already being found guilty. All he did was his hand came across Fitzgerald's face, in the region of the eyes of his opponent. From the video evidence there was no actual eye gouging, which if it had been the case would have seen Fitzgerald needing treatment.
To say that "Burger buried his digits into Fitzgerald's eye sockets" is a beer-induced filled fantasy on the Highveld, judging from the video evidence. And the injury count amounted from a tough encounter in a very physical sport.
Then to suggest that Jacques Fourie's try was no try is another indulgent make-believe, looking at all the vidoe evidence. The name British Lions should be changed to BRITISH LOSERS.
By GREG. Posted June 28 2009 at 3:39 PM.
There is a lot of animosity in these posts. The average South African fan does not condone what Burger did and he will have to take whatever punishment is coming his way. It is just incredibly frustrating to hear people blaming the Lion's loss on him not being red carded. That, as has already been said a thousand times, is just an admission that the Lions are incapable of beating the Springboks with 15 men. Give it a break and look elsewhere for the real reasons they lost.
By Mike. Posted June 28 2009 at 3:03 PM.
As an Aussie rugby fanatic I could not get to the bottom of the opinions as I have been sickened by the attitude of The SA contributers. Your arrogance and bull headed attitude keeps you apart from every rugby playing nation. You will never know the feeling of shame but oh how you should. Best team in the world, probably. Worst losers undoubtedly. Despicable fans that approve of what they saw with their own eyes, sadly yes.
By steve. Posted June 28 2009 at 1:54 PM.
You always know when the BA flight lands in Joburg...the engines stop but the whining carries on.
By lirpa olof. Posted June 28 2009 at 1:25 PM.
I have been involved with rugby union as spectator, player, referee and coach for over fifty years.
Yesterday was the end of my association with the game.
The fact that the match officials did not immediately red card Burger speaks volumes for the way the game is going.
There is a world of difference between a punch-up (illegal but perhaps understandable) and cowardly thuggery.
I have no wish, ten years from now, to hear that one of the boys I am involved with coaching has been crippled for life by on-field thuggery.
The only single action (and I know it will not happen) that could keep me involved is for a lifetime ban on both of yesterday's thugs and for the irb to ensure that all such violence means exclusion from the game for ever.
By Glyndwr. Posted June 28 2009 at 1:22 PM.
HOW CAN YOU HAVE A LIONS TEAM WITHOUT SCOTTISH PLAYERS INVOLVED THE LIONS JUST RAN OUT OF STEAM
By ron corsar. Posted June 28 2009 at 1:17 PM.
So basically the article implies that the lions were robbed because berger didnt get a red, thereby implying that the lions could only win if there were 14 Boks on the field. No one here is talking about the 4 kicks that teh Boks missed in the first half, if those would have gone over the game would have been one sided in the second half.
By David. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:53 PM.
David, why are the supporters nasty mate?
Burger should have been sent off but your comments have no justification.
We beat you good and proper after a very silly mistake of kicking the ball away in your own 22, instead of running down the clock and taking a drawn.
As a Saffa, we don't play for a draw, but that would have made for an excellent 3rd test, all to play for and nothing to loss. Instead, now you may have a 3 NIL WHITEWASH on your hands.
Good Luck.
By Lord Pekin. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:43 PM.
Most of the comments on this board are possitive and fair. As a South african myself the eye gouging was a very nasty thing to and im shure most people would agree.Its something that brings bad reputation to the game. Now some posters are saying that the south african were using bully boy tactics and the Lions played like gentleman,this is the usual reply from them when they lose. Imagine if they did win there would be open bus parades memorabelia and MBE's all around. It seems the author of this article has everything down to the Springbok cheating. I really hope they cite O Driscoll as well for his wreckles tackle on Danie Rossouw,no hands shoulder charge but i suppose that was passion not hooliginism. Its never the Lions fault but always the opposition, the referee, the touch judges, video ref, the crowd, the ball pressure and a thousand other excusses. I pressume they will still be complaining in another 30 years
By Gautenglion. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:35 PM.
Nasty tactics , nasty players ,nasty supporters no wonder no one likes you.
By David . Posted June 28 2009 at 12:30 PM.
The Boks outscored the Lions 3 tries to 1, in addition they missed 4 kicks in the first half which would have given them the lead and possibly made the game one sided to teh Boks in the second half.
Schalk made a mistake by eye gouging and could have possibly warranted a red card but to suggest this was the reason for the loss inplies that the lions could have one if only the boks were down to 14 men, this really is insulting for the lions.
By Darren. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:20 PM.
The Lions are the best of 4 countries but are only together for a short time every four years so for a Lions team to win a test series, they have to be something special.
I think yesterday was a sad day because of injuries and because of a nasty incident within the first minute.
However lets not take anything away from S.Africa who are the world champions and they played like it. Got lucky in the end but thats the mark of champions.
My only fear now is the series final game could be a hammering for the Lions as key players are heading home.
By Sam Jones. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:06 PM.
south africa played dirty tactics as usual, bullie boys
By christian. Posted June 28 2009 at 11:00 AM.
I would just like to congratulate both teams on a couple of belting games of rugby, yeah Schalke should have gone, gouging is just plain dirty/wrong, we lost this one by a simple act of stupidity by normally reliable O'Gara -kick it into touch then it was all to play for in the last test...Lions have done us proud great displays considering they have only been together a few weeks
By Mark. Posted June 28 2009 at 10:50 AM.
What a fantastic game of Rugby, I think it is fair to say the best team won.
It is a pity that such a mammoth encounter, one of the greatest in the Lions history, is now being overshadowed by people laying blame on the officials and calling for suspensions.
Man Up and move on to the third test.
By LondonBartender. Posted June 28 2009 at 10:33 AM.
mr andy dunn
good day sir
i read your piece on the internet ==a good very good piece lots of pics and interesting comments ===well done sir ==its seems the best team won ==onward onward lets at least make it two =one
regards
don barnes
By donald barnes. Posted June 28 2009 at 9:38 AM.
You could have drawn that game, if you had kept your head. Wasted a few seconds behind your 22 and then kicked the ball into touch. Instead you tried to be clever and threw the game away. Go Bokker, could be a 3 nil hammering.
By Lord Pekin. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:44 AM.
As a South African, what Burger did was unforgivable!! Granted he should have been red carded, but surely you UK journalists are not complaining about the ref?? Not even a week ago you made the excuse that had the ref in Durban been from the Northen Hemisphere you would have won? And these injuries you speak of? Alot of them were self inflicted! Jenkins bashed his head on Habana's, not the other way round, O'Driscall went off for a horrible tackle on Roussow which was dangerous, an Jones had no right to be in the ruck that way and was rightly taken out by Botha! Fourie's try WAS a try, seriously guys when you've gone through every excuse in the book why cant you just give credit to the World Champions?? We held on in Durban, and came back brilliantly in Pretoria. 2-0 is a very fair reflection!!
By Clayton. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:47 AM.
the 4 home countries put together cannot beat one country,it says a lot about rugby in britain can you imagine players from S.Africa,Australia.New zealand losing to Ireland it would never happen.
By phil. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:41 AM.
To find it necessary to try to gauge someones eye out after 1 min shows a bit of fear i'd say!? Why else would they not want to play on even level and best team wins? Boks were literally running scared but thr Lions surprised themselves i think with how well/easy it was going. A bit more ball carrying and no unnecessary last minute stupid challenges and next week woudl woudl be all to play for still. Boks will no way retain their crown on this showing.
By Rich Hudson. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:27 AM.
BooHoo! And you call yourselves Lions! sound more like Kittens with all your whining! It's funny how no-ones mentions Sheridan punching Andries Bekker in the knackers or how the Boks should have had a penalty when O'Driscoll illegally took out Russouw and injured himself in the process, let's face it, the Lions tried to give as godd as they got, so stop moaning the better team won.
By Amabokoboko. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:21 AM.
To be fair the ref did not see the incident he was told by the assistant who said "At least Yellow " What he should have said is straight red. Why do they not go to the vidio in serious foul play situations. We shouldn't allow our dissapointment about the result to overshadow what was a great game of Rugby.
The reason that sport is such an attration is that it is one of the few things in the modern world where reality and truth take over from hype and Ego.
By pDzonu p. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:05 AM.
Oh c'mon all you bok bashers, the lions were beaten, albeit the controversial eye gouging incident which was punished with a sin bin, the lions had the rest of the game to win or did they feel they could only do it if they had a number advantage. The lions played very well but lost, the fourie try was a try and i think the fact that it took a long time for the decision was in the lions favour as he did not go into touch or look like he was in touch compared to cueto which was proven. Jenkins has a clash of heads with little habana and gets bloodied up that's not foul play heads clash all the time. O'driscoll played with aggression and volatility but i suppose that is passion hey something the boks are not allowed to have or use. Remember "cheating" in rugby is only if you are caught remember the Neil Back at leceister in the Heiniken cup final? Botha charging Jones was it? don't players all over the world do this time and time again?
By Dale . Posted June 28 2009 at 7:07 AM.
Of course its tough playing the Boks,maybe we should field our ladies team in Joburg,stop moaning,the Lions are no angels either.
By Ken Groom. Posted June 28 2009 at 5:14 AM.
Burger has been playing like an animal in Tri Nations tests for the past 4-6 yrs or so. If he isn"t doing the gouging he is tackling with no arms, nasty late hits off the ball and his favourite trick of hitting the opposition in a maul, while they either cannot see him coming or they have their arms tied up in the maul, and they are unable to protect themselves. Some things never change!!!
By don conway. Posted June 28 2009 at 4:42 AM.
Too many nasty bits from the South Africans. It was so obvious Schalk was trying to poke eyes out - Why? After 40 seconds ? The stage was set at that point. Ref should have pulled things up at that stage and game would have changed to the Lions advantage
By Steve Colman. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:10 AM.