Repentant Strauss to miss Wales
Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss will miss both Test matches against Wales after pleading guilty to a tip-tackle and receiving a three-match ban.
The Cheetahs hooker was cited for a dangerous tackle in their 33-0 defeat to the Stormers at Newlands, which saw him shown a yellow card.
As the Cheetahs have a bye this weekend, the the SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Adam Casselden ruled that he has been suspended from all forms of the game for three weeks up to and including 21 June, which means he will only be available for the Springboks' clash with Scotland.
Casselden explained: "After initially reviewing the video footage and Citing Commissioner's report, I heard submissions from the player's representatives, including his counsel, and obtained their views of the incident.
"I then proceeded by establishing that the player accepted a breach for the cited offence and then identified the various factors involved in the incident.
"I considered the incident had an entry point in the low end range which starts at a four week suspension for lifting tackles. I then added two weeks as a deterrent to send a further message that this type of tackle cannot be tolerated in the game due to the risk it poses to players," he added.
The Judicial Officer said that the three-week ban would carry over for a further week due to the Cheetahs' bye.
"I also considered the player's upcoming schedule of games as required under the IRB regulations. The Cheetahs have a bye according to this week's Super Rugby schedule and I have not seen any evidence that satisfies me that the player was scheduled to play rugby. This is followed by four South African Test matches scheduled to occur in the June international window.
"The player has consistently been a part of the Springbok match-day squad in recent seasons with 12 Tests to his name in 2013 as either the starting or reserve hooker and is named in the squad named for the June window.
"For this reason I consider the upcoming matches for South Africa against the World XV, Wales and Scotland as part of his upcoming schedule.
"Factors considered in mitigation included the player's excellent record extending over 33 Test matches for South Africa and over 100 Super Rugby matches, his good character and the player's early admission of guilt for the tackle and remorse shown for the incident, I reduced the six week suspension to three weeks.
"Accordingly, the player is suspended from all forms of rugby up to and including Saturday 21 June which incorporates his next three scheduled matches."
