‘Six weeks for that!’ – Springboks fans cry foul over Jasper Wiese’s ‘harsh’ ban
Salford, UK. 10th May, 2024. 10th May 2024; Salford Community Stadium, Salford, Lancashire, England; Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Sale Sharks versus Leicester Tigers; Jasper Wiese of Leicester Tigers who leaves them at the end of the season Credit: Action
Many rugby observers were caught off guard after Jasper Wiese received a severe punishment for his red card against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
The Leicester Tigers number eight was banned for six weeks after he lifted Exeter’s Ross Vintcent above the horizontal and dropped him on his head.
Although it was done with minimal force and did not injure the opponent, it was a reckless act and Wiese accepted during the hearing that he had committed an act of foul play.
It was deemed to warrant a low-end entry point, which carries a six-week ban. Mitigation is then applied and weeks tend to be taken off, but this was the Springboks back-rower’s fourth red card in six seasons.
No mitigation
As a result, mitigation was not factored in, despite Wiese admitting his guilt, apologising and showing remorse, and displaying good conduct at the hearing.
The outcome has angered South African supporters with the number eight set to miss the Ireland series and the early stages of the Rugby Championship.
With Leicester failing to reach the Premiership play-offs and the latter stages of Europe, it means that Wiese’s ban impacts the Boks.
Springboks dealt hammer blow as Jasper Wiese cops a HEFTY ban and could miss the first EIGHT Tests of 2024
South African fans have duly voiced their displeasure on social media over the severity of the suspension handed down to the 28-year-old.
“Six weeks for that? Unbelievable! Everything in their power to disrupt and weaken the Boks,” Garth Edwards wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Another person added: “If he played for any other country, he’d get a 1 game ban.”
Despite their grievances, the issue for Wiese was that once it was deemed to meet the red card threshold, there was no chance for any mitigation to be applied due to his poor disciplinary record.
Paying for his past
The RFU actually recommended a mid-range entry point, which would have resulted in a 10-week ban, but the independent panel eventually settled on six weeks.
As Progressive Rugby explained: “Many will feel this harsh as undoubtedly there’s been more dangerous actions that received lighter bans in the past. But Wiese is paying for previous indiscretions.
“Once disciplinary panel agreed it met threshold there was nowhere for them to go other than 6 weeks minimum.”
Wiese struggled with his discipline when he first came to England, which has ultimately cost him in this scenario, but the Bok has worked incredibly hard to rectify that part of his game.
The number eight has become very reliable for both club and country, with this incident his first brain explosion for three years, and some believe that should be factored in.
“What I hate about the length of the ban, is that Jasper has fundamentally changed how he plays the game from becoming a hot head to someone who is a lot more controlled,” one person wrote.
“He has one moment of recklessness and gets a harsh punishment for it. The system doesn’t encourage change.”
Jasper Wiese’s suspension
22.06 South Africa v Wales (Twickenham) *
06.07 South Africa v Ireland (Pretoria)
13.07 South Africa v Ireland (Durban)
20.07 South Africa v Portugal (Bloemfontein) +
10.08 Australia v South Africa
17.08 Australia v South Africa
* subject to confirmation that the player is no longer bound by World Rugby Regulation 9 and so able to play this fixture.
+ subject to the SARU confirming after 13 July 2024 that the player is required to play against Portugal.