BRISBANE, Australia, 5 August 2003 — South Africa’s rugby reputation was tainted again here on Sunday after forward Bakkies Botha was banned for eight weeks and prop Robbie Kempson for four weeks in the aftermath of the spiteful Tri-Nations Test with Australia here.
They will miss only one Test — Saturday’s Tri-Nations game with New Zealand - and will be back in time for October’s World Cup.
Botha, 23, was found guilty of attacking the face of Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon, who gave evidence to a three-man SANZAR judiciary which took almost six hours to complete both hearings.
Kempson, 29, was suspended for a high and late tackle on Wallabies forward Toutai Kefu, who was cleared yesterday of serious neck damage.
The decisions continued a wild aftermath to Australia’s first win in four internationals, with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones declaring that the Springboks were “a disgrace for international rugby”.
