Two Springbok forwards suspended

South Africa forwards Robbie Kempson and Bakkies Botha were both suspended on Sunday after being found guilty of foul play in…

South Africa forwards Robbie Kempson and Bakkies Botha were both suspended on Sunday after being found guilty of foul play in Saturday's Tri-nations 29-9 loss to Australia.

Ulster prop Kempson was banned for four weeks for a late tackle on Australian number eight Toutai Kefu while Botha received an eight-week ban for "attacking the face" of Wallabies' hooker Brendan Cannon.

The bans, which followed a marathon six-hour hearing in Brisbane, mean the pair will miss South Africa's final Tri-nations match against New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday but will be eligible to resume playing before the World Cup, starting on October 10th.

Kempson will also be available for Ulster's Celtic League matches which start at the beginning of September.

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Kempson and Botha were ordered to appear before the three-member judiciary panel after Australia coach Eddie Jones lodged an official complaint with the citing commissioner Steve Hinds. A furious Jones accused the South Africans of a deliberate and pre-meditated campaign of foul play against his players, describing their actions as "disgraceful".

Kefu was rushed to hospital and later diagnosed with spinal concussion after being felled from behind by a swinging arm from prop Kempson and is in doubt for Australia's final Tri-nations match with the All Blacks. Reuters