Samoa left-wing Alesana Tuilagi was banned for two weeks in Johannesburg after being red carded for a stiff-arm, clothesline tackle during a 56-23 Test defeat by South Africa this weekend.
Japan-based Tuilagi, one of the heaviest backs in world rugby union at 117 kilograms, fouled Springboks skipper Jean de Villiers midway through the second-half at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday. The former Munster centre tottered to his feet and sought out the Samoan for an apology of sorts:
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There was better news for Samoa when full-back James So’oialo was cleared after grabbing the testicles of hooker Adriaan Strauss during the second half, with the contact dismissed by the judicial officer as “accidental”.
Judge Jeff Blackett said after probing the citing that in trying to clear out a ruck, So’oialo wanted to grab the shorts of Strauss and accidentally grabbed his testicles.
The Springboks ran in eight tries to Samoa’s two in the comprehensive victory, including doubles for Bryan Habana and Francois Louw.
