Boks angered by biting allegation

Springbok prop Frans Malherbe has been exonorated of biting by World Rugby commissioner Peter Larter.

Springbok prop Frans Malherbe has been exonorated of biting by World Rugby commissioner Peter Larter.

Published Oct 8, 2015

Share

London – The Springboks have been shocked and angered by a picture published by the British tabloid the Daily Mail of Springbok prop Frans Malherbe supposedly biting American lock Matt Trouville in their Pool B encounter at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.

Springbok team manager Ian Schwartz said that Malherbe was visibly dismayed and in shock at the picture doing the rounds but that the allegations had also angered the entire Springbok squad.

“Yes he is (upset) but everybody in the squad is upset about it,” Schwartz said from the team’s base in Lensbury.

“He thought we made a joke and he laughed. He was shocked and devastated when he saw the picture,” Schwartz said of Malherbe’s reaction.

The 24-year-old Malherbe has been exonerated by World Rugby with independent citing commissioner Peter Larter satisfied that no incident of biting happened and that there was no evidence proving the allegations against Malherbe.

At the same time, the USA team have denied any incidents of biting took place on the field and they dismissed the claims.

 

Not sure what is happening here is this a bite? more on @MailSport http://t.co/4v2bkWBmGY pic.twitter.com/594CTkdUGg

— Kevin Quigley (@KevinQuigley_DM) October 7, 2015

 

“Independent Citing Commissioner Peter Larter (England) is satisfied that no alleged biting incident occurred during the Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool B match between South Africa and USA on October 7. Mr Larter’s determination follows a detailed review of all the video footage, an absence of a team referral and the proactive dismissal by the USA team of claims made via social media that a South Africa player bit a USA player during the match. This matter highlights the need to exercise caution in respect of claims based on two-dimensional images,” said the statement issued out by World Rugby on Thursday.

However, the incident has left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Springbok players as they now prepare for their crucial World Cup quarterfinal clash against either Australia or Wales but Schwartz feels that this has done damage to Malherbe’s reputation.

“From our side Frans definitely didn’t bite. If you look at that in real time you will see that. It is a really serious allegation and it is not good for Frans, it is reputation damage and we are not happy at all. We are in the hands of a fair system and I’m sure they are going to do their homework and there will be justice.”

The Springboks are taking it easy for the next few days after two bruising encounters against Scotland and the USA in four days but Schwartz emphasized that the picture falsely accusing Malherbe was not only malicious but was a distraction for the team ahead of the knockout stage of the tournament.

The two-time world champions, the Springboks, will play the loser of the Wallabies versus Wales clash on Saturday with the two teams embroiled in a battle for top spot in Pool A after England were unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament becoming the first host nation to do so in Rugby World Cup history.

“It is a distraction, you don’t want to focus on things like that. We want to focus on recovering and getting ready for the play-offs, so it is a distraction and we are not happy at all,” Schwartz added.

Related Topics: