Controversial Springbok lock Bakkies Botha will face a SANZAR judicial hearing on Sunday after being cited for an alleged head butt during Saturday’s opening Tri-Nations match against New Zealand in Auckland.
Botha was given a yellow card for repeated infringements by Irish referee Alan Lewis in the first half of the 32-12 defeat to the All Blacks, but was cited for dangerous play by citing commissioner Scott Howland for what was shown in replay to be a head butt on the back of Jimmy Cowan’s head after a tackle in the opening minute of the match.
Botha has form when it comes to citings, having been issued with an eight week ban for “attacking the face” of the Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon in 2003 – he was alleged to have both bitten and eye-gouged the Aussie No 2 – and then picked up a two-week ban for a “dangerous charge” on British & Irish Lions prop Adam Jones last year.
That offence came in the second Test in Pretoria and left Jones needing an operation for a badly dislocated shoulder that kept him out of the game for six months.
Botha will meet SANZAR Judicial Officer Dennis Wheelahan in Auckland this weekend – six days before the second match against the All Blacks in Wellington.
