The South Africa second-row Jannes Labuschagne was yesterday handed a 23-day suspension for the late tackle on England's Jonny Wilkinson during the Springboks' record-breaking defeat at Twickenham on Saturday.
Labuschagne was sent off for the dangerous challenge that left the Newcastle fly-half with a badly bruised shoulder, an injury his club coach Rob Andrew, whose side are bottom of the Zurich Premiership, reckons may keep him out of action for five weeks.
Labuschagne was suspended after a disciplinary hearing yesterday conducted by video link between a three-man panel sitting in a Heathrow hotel and Ellis Park in Johannesburg, where the player and his representatives were present.
His suspension will start at the beginning of the Super 12 series next February but the South Africa full-back Werner Greeff will be free to play in the tournament from the opening round of matches after England's citing of him for a high tackle was dismissed because the incident was dealt with at the time by the referee Paddy O'Brien.
It was initially feared that Wilkinson had dislocated his shoulder but Andrew said last night: "The first scan showed no significant damage but he will have another one when the bruising subsides.
"I would be very surprised if Jonny was available for our match against Bristol this weekend. We will know more when the physios are able to get to work on him but, if he is out for five weeks, he would only miss one league match because we have Parker Pen and Powergen Cup matches after Bristol. The Premiership is all that matters this season."
The Springboks were widely condemned for their over-physical approach in the 53-3 hammering by England but the South African Rugby Football Union president, Silas Nkannu, said there was no chance of the coach Rudi Straeuli losing his job and tipped the Boks, who were also crushed by France and Scotland, to win next year's World Cup.
Nkannu did not make any reference to South Africa's roughhouse tactics. "The tour left many of us disappointed and concerned," he said. "I believe the players and coach have the mental strength to lift their performance and win the World Cup next year.
"My union fully supports the coach and the managing director of SA Rugby, Rian Oberholzer. They possess the vision and intellectual capacity to lead rugby in our country to a path of success."
Bath's South African-born England international Mike Catt is facing a month on the sidelines following this Friday night's Premiership match at Sale due to recurring hamstring problems. Rest has been diagnosed as the cure.
Montferrand's France international Aurelien Rougerie has started legal proceedings in a bid for compensation after suffering a serious throat injury in a tackle with the Wasps hooker Phil Greening during a friendly in August.
Gloucester's Simon Amor will captain England when they compete in the IRB Sevens Series in Dubai next month.
England sevens squad: Amor (Gloucester, capt), Cannon (London Irish), Gollings (Harlequins), Haughton (Saracens), Hylton (Wasps), Laird (Wasps), Lund (Sale), Mayor (Sale), Peacey (Saracens), Russell (Saracens), Sampson (Wasps), Thirlby (Bath).
