Bismark du Plessis' red card wiped from record books – Judicial Hearing

 Published: 6:43AM Tuesday September 17, 2013 Source: Reuters

South Africa hooker Bismark du Plessis has had the red card he received during on Saturday's Test against the All Blacks expunged from his record after a judicial hearing decided his first yellow card had been wrongly awarded.

Du Plessis was shown two yellow cards in the match, the first in the 17th minute for a tackle on All Blacks flrst five-eighth Dan Carter that French referee Romain Poite adjudged was high and illegally executed without the use of his arms.

"Judicial Officer Terry Willis from Australia has removed a red card from the disciplinary record of Bismarck du Plessis," read a statement from governing body SANZAR released today.

"(He) found that the decision made by referee Romain Poite to issue a yellow card as a result of the tackle by du Plessis on Dan Carter was wrong, as it was within the laws of the game."

Having missed 10 minutes of the first half because of the initial yellow card, Du Plessis was sent from the field for good two minutes after halftime when, attempting a fend-off, he smashed his elbow into the throat of New Zealand's Liam Messam.

The absence for so much of the game of the inspirational forward, who also scored one of his country's two tries in an eventful evening at Eden Park, disfigured what had looked like being a tight contest.

World champions New Zealand won the match 29-15 to move above the Springboks to the top of the Rugby Championship standings with two rounds of the competition remaining.

One step closer to us changing the subject I hope. At least the officials are making the right decisions. We will see of anything  is done about the ref.

We all seem to think that our team is the best so let's provide our predictions on the thread below : "Your predictions for the Boks vs All Blacks @ Ellis Park".

@ JW, I understand your desire for Bok fans to move on, and that is the truth. However, although Bizzy's red card has been wiped from record books, the fact is, we lost the match that meant a lot to all Bok supporters. The results stay the same, we lost the match unfairly. How would you feel if this was your team? Its sickening to say the least. And then you have some Kiwi fans claiming without for--knowledge that the ABs were going to win that match, what an insult, and purer ignorance! May the best team win in Ellis Park without any drama. Boks to win by 27 points in Ellis Park

@ JW, I understand your desire for Bok fans to move on, and that is the truth. However, although Bizzy's red card has been wiped from record books, the fact is, we lost the match that meant a lot to all Bok supporters. The results stay the same, we lost the match unfairly. How would you feel if this was your team? Its sickening to say the least. And then you have some Kiwi fans claiming without for--knowledge that the ABs were going to win that match, what an insult, and purer ignorance! May the best team win in Ellis Park without any drama. Boks to win by 27 points in Ellis Park

ntanga: yes when the refs have made mistakes against the ABs and we lost the game I feel bad too, we all know that has happened.

We won this game but it is not exactly with full satisfaction IMO. But what can be done is being done by the officials to acknowledge the mistake of the ref and do whatever else they can do (clearing Bismarck of the red card). We will see if they take action against the ref, e.g demote him. But to have Bok fans go overboard saying Kiwis are bribing the ref, etc. is crazy.

Anyway, this anger and frustration probably has to run it's course but at least the more extreme accusations should stop. We fans and our players had nothing to do with the ref stupid mistake.

Many of us predicted the All Blacks would win this match. In our simple prediction competion on this Board all All Black fans who participated predicted a win for the All Blacks. No insult intended. Boks supporters support their team we support ours.

Well said JW, each to their own mate, shalom

Well said just-win ! Personally I dont care what happens to him ,its not my problem .What pisses me off is sanctimonious gits blaming the ABS for the ref  ,how the ABS are supposed to have done that is still a mystery.

We like all fans have had crap calls against our team ,its what happens after thats the difference .I dont recall any Kiwis having a go at the FRench in 2007 for playing to the refs calls and nor should they . If bok fans are aggrieved instead of writing up stupid farcebook petitions trying to ban the ref for a crap call take it up with the IRB about the laws or refs in general [ NH refs anyway ]