Bismarck’s leadership in question

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 09: Bismarck Du Plessis (captain) of the Cell C Sharks during the Cell C Sharks training session at Growthpoint Kings Park on February 09, 2015 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 09: Bismarck Du Plessis (captain) of the Cell C Sharks during the Cell C Sharks training session at Growthpoint Kings Park on February 09, 2015 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

Published Mar 23, 2015

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Durban – Sharks captain Bismarck du Plessis’ controversial leadership was brought sharply under the spotlight last night when a Sanzar judiciary suspended him for four weeks after he pleaded guilty to intentionally striking opposite number Liam Neeson with a boot during a heated clash with the Chiefs at Kings Park at the weekend.

Du Plessis was red carded for the incident in the 11th minute of a match won 12-11 by the home team and took legal advice to plead guilty to avoid an even harsher sentence.

And it will remain a busy day for the judiciary today when another four players from the hotly contested match appear on the red carpet, three Chiefs in Tom Marshall, Hika Elliot and captain Liam Messam; and Du Plessis’ Springbok teammate Francois Steyn.

Du Plessis was red carded for a stamping offence while Steyn, for the second time in three matches, was carded for a tip tackle.

But it is the suspension of Du Plessis that will have tongues wagging. Many have felt that the Springbok hooker does not have the temperament to be in charge of a Super Rugby team.

The Sharks captain loves to lead from the front but his ‘bull-in-a china-shop’ approach can make him an easy target for street-wise opponents, as was the case with Victor Matfield during the Sharks’ ill-fated clash at Loftus a fortnight ago.

Bismarck’s rough-and-tumble with Matfield resulted in Du Plessis making a belated apology to his fans following foul-mouthed utterances in the match. He said he was not proud of his actions.

But now Du Plessis finds himself in the same position – sent off against the Chiefs, suspended, and having to make a post-match apology to his teammates.

Asked of the captain’s conduct, coach Gary Gold said on Saturday night: “I am not going to justify foul play, that would be silly. It was a silly thing for Bismarck to do, he lashed out to free his foot but you can’t do that when a head is in the way. For what it is worth, he apologised to the group and said he is ashamed of his behaviour. In Fran’s case, Marius Jonker (the TMO) had suggested a yellow card, but it was overturned.

Gold added, if a little lamely: “Bissy is a fiery character and by his own admission he made an ‘honest’ mistake in lashing out at a head. He was just trying to free the guy’s foot.”

Du Plessis was involved in a similar incident two years ago during a Currie Cup match against the Cheetahs, but was free to play for the Sharks in the Currie Cup final at Newlands the next week.”

A rueful Gold tried his best to make light of a grave situation. “We have been under pressure to rest players. I guess our hand has been forced.”

Complicating matters for Gold is the reality that starting flyhalf Patrick Lambie is carrying a groin injury and will have to sit the home game against the Western Force.

It would have been a possibility to move Steyn to 10 for Lambie, but with Steyn almost certainly heading for suspension, Lambie will be replaced by one of the two flyhalves that did duty in the Sharks XV’s win over the Border Bulldogs in the Vodacom Cup curtain-raiser – either Lionel Cronjé or Fred Zeilinga.

That said, Gold was clearly moved by the fighting spirit of his charges.

“I am immensely proud,” he said. “We had not shown this character before. We did not show it a Loftus when we needed it when bad calls went against us. They (the Chiefs) are regularly the best attacking team in the competition and we showed a lot of fighting spirit to stay in that contest”. - The Star

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