Bok prop cleared; Force lock fingered
Wed, 30 May 2012 11:13
The Lions' World Cup-winning Springbok prop CJ van der Linde has been cleared on a charge of biting.
A SANZAR judicial hearing on Wednesday found Van der Linde 'not guilty' of contravening Law 10.4 (m): Acts contrary to good sportsmanship.
This followed after he was cited for an incident in the 10th minute of the Lions' 11-17 loss to the Western Force at the weekend.
The citing was not upheld.
The SANZAR judicial hearing was held before judicial officer Paul Tully via video conference on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Stephan Weyers appeared as counsel on behalf of CJ van der Linde.
It was alleged that Van der Linde had contravened Law 10.4 (m), when he allegedly bit Force player Toby Lynn at the back of a ruck - while the Force player had the Lions prop in a head-lock.
In his finding Tully ruled the incident was more the fault of Force the lock, Lynn, than that of Van der Linde.
"For the citing to be upheld on such a serious breach of the laws of the game, it is necessary that there be a deliberate decision on the part of the cited player to bite," Tully said.
"The cited player whilst leaning over a player on the ground was held around the mouth in the forearm of a Force player [Lynn]. He was pulled back.
"It was during this motion that the Force player’s forearm came into contact with the cited player’s mouth.
"The cited player denied biting.
"He conceded that there were red marks on the forearm of the Force player consistent with what might have been made by teeth.
"The finding of the judicial officer is such that he accepted the cited player’s evidence that there was no deliberate intention to bite and that the marks were more consistent with a forearm being used in a levering type motion.
"The matter was minor. The mark had resolved within twenty minutes of the incident."
