VIDEO: Bismarck concerned about rugby's future after controversial call
SPOTLIGHT: Springbok legend Bismarck du Plessis doesn’t seem too happy about some of the antics going on in the modern game at the moment.
The 38-year-old received a yellow card in the 75th minute of the Bulls’ URC match against Ulster for what looked like a legal clean-out on No.10 Billy Burns.
Burns seems to overplay the incident by laying on the ground, which forced the officials to take a closer look.
And Burns got what he wanted when the TMO told the referee that Du Plessis made no attempt to ‘wrap’ and he ‘used the shoulder’ into the back of Burns.
Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White likened Burns’ antics to something out of a soccer match and Du Plessis echoed his sentiments.
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“I understand the change in the rules,” said Du Plessis. “I have young kids myself and I think we want to make it safer for every person to play.
“But I do think that we should also not shy away from what rugby is.
“Rugby is a contact sport and as our great coach [Peter de Villiers] said, ballet is also a contact sport.
“The big thing that we should get away from is where soccer is [at the moment]. If you are not happy with a decision you just lie on the ground for some time and eventually they [the match officials] will go back to that.
“I just think we are treading in very fine waters if we go that route.”
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‘Old-school values’
The Bulls are currently in France ahead of their Champions Cup Round of 16 clash against Toulouse on Sunday and Du Plessis had some time to talk about the state of the game with some old friends.
“I saw quite a few friends of mine here in France and I always asked them why they don’t play football and they said you’ll see after the game.
“They play because you can be as physical as you want against each other and then afterwards you are friends.
“Afterwards you have a cold one with the friend that you just played 80 minutes with.
“That’s the thing I always respected when playing against the All Blacks. We would go as hard as we can within the rules and then afterwards you always had the chance to talk to them and we are still in contact.
“I just think that we should get away from stuff that makes such a big difference in our sport. We should keep our sport the way it is and the way everybody likes it.”
@rugby365com
