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How good was that rugby?

Or, more accurately, how good was that second half?

The Springboks scored 21 unanswered points in the final 40 to secure a convincing 27-9 win over the British & Irish Lions, meaning we’re all set for a cup final of sorts this coming Saturday.

As was to be expected, after a week of immense pressure being heaped on the refereeing by the likes of Rassie Erasmus and Jaco Johan (who is allegedly not Rassie), there was plenty to dissect in the wake of the match.

Kolbe’s dangerous tackle, Duhan van der Merwe’s late hit on Pieter-Steph du Toit (who went off injured shortly after), Maro Itoje’s knee to the neck of Damian de Allende, the grounding from Robbie Henshaw and Lukhanyo Am, and even what looked like a bite from a British & Irish Lions player.

That player was Stuart Hogg, but he has denied any wrongdoing and avoided being cited.

Instead, out of nowhere, prop Kyle Sinckler has been cited by the match citing commissioner, Australian Scott Nowland, for an alleged bite on Franco Mostert (a name which must be shouted like this) in the 64th minute.

There is no sound on the clip:

Here is where the alleged bite from Kyle Sinckler takes place, see how Mostert checks his arm after the ruck. #BoksvLions #LionsTour2021 pic.twitter.com/e0ic5uoeJu

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) August 1, 2021

You can’t really see Mostert checking his arm in the above footage, so here’s a still:

At the next stoppage, we can’t hear what the Boks say to Ben O’Keeffe but the referee says:

“Siya, I understand what Franco [Mostert] said but I can’t do anything about that right now. If there is anything, it will be dealt with after the game if we need to… yes, we will.”

— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) August 1, 2021

It appears Siya Kolisi, after a week where he said he felt he wasn’t listened to by referee Nic Berry, was finally heard.

Let’s take a moment to praise our skipper for what was an immense performance on the field. capped off with a great post-match interview.

Back to Sinckler, who will be hit with a minimum 12-week ban if the citing is upheld by Tuesday’s disciplinary hearing, reports Sky Sports:

Sinckler now faces an anxious wait knowing biting is treated severely by rugby’s judiciary and carries a low-end sanction of a 12-week ban, rising to in excess of 24 weeks for severe offences. The maximum length of suspension is 208 weeks.

The England prop, who was a second-half replacement for Tadhg Furlong, can expect little mitigation if the biting incident is proven because of his previous misdemeanours.

Sinckler was found guilty of gouging four years ago, and was also suspended earlier this year after swearing at a referee.

He was a late addition to the British & Irish Lions squad, in place of injured prop Andrew Porter, and may just find himself on an early plane home.

A nervous wait for Sinckler, but sweet relief for a number of other players, who would have feared disciplinary hearings of their own ahead of what is a massive, massive test match.

[source:skysports]