Rugby Round-up:Bath's England lock Danny Grewcock has been suspended for the opening weeks of next season after being found guilty of punching Clermont lock Thibault Privat in last month's European Challenge Cup final.
The ban runs from August 4th to September 15th and will rule him out of England's three World Cup warm-ups against Wales and France (two games), plus the opening two matches of their world title defence against the United States and South Africa.
A European Rugby Cup statement yesterday said Grewcock could appeal against the decision by an independent disciplinary committee.
England head coach Brian Ashton is set to name his 40-man World Cup training squad on Friday and must now decide whether it is worth carrying a player who is banned for all the preparation matches and the most important fixture of the pool stage.
It seems highly unlikely. By the time England face Samoa in Nantes on September 22nd, Grewcock would not have played any rugby for four months.
Grewcock has the right to appeal the suspension. A decision on that must be made within 72 hours.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) have launched an internal investigation into the conduct of Springbok coach Jake White following an incident in a Johannesburg pub. White was involved in a late-night argument with a journalist over a newspaper's coverage of the Springbok season.
The journalist was later assaulted by a third party, but claimed his argument with White had incited the attack. "Jake White is not being grilled as has been suggested, but we have launched an internal investigation," SARU manager of national teams Andy Marinos said.
White is in Cape Town preparing his side for the opening Tri-Nations match of the season against Australia on Saturday.
Scrumhalf Michael Claassens was added to the Springbok squad yesterday as cover for Saturday's opening Tri-nations test against Australia in Cape Town.
Claassens, who has just agreed a two-year contract with Bath in England, steps in due to injuries to first-choice duo Fourie du Preez (shoulder) and Ricky Januarie (knee). Claassens will understudy third-choice halfback Ruan Pienaar. Claassens will cover for just one Test and was not added to the 30-man squad named by team manager Zola Yeye.
Luke Watson, the flanker included in the initial squad at the insistence of rugby officials and against the wishes of coach White, has a rib injury following his debut against Samoa on Saturday and was not included.
Wing Bryan Habana, who has a knee injury, was also left out. Yeye said Habana was expected to be out of action for between two and five weeks.
Australia coach John Connolly laughed off suggestions he could be sacked before the World Cup if the Wallabies struggle during the Tri-Nations series.
SOUTH AFRICA (squad):Backs - Frans Steyn, Percy Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Akona Ndungane, Ashwin Willemse, Waylon Murray, Wynand Olivier, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Butch James, Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Ricky Januarie. Forwards - Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Bob Skinstad, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies, Bakkies Botha, Johann Muller, Victor Matfield, Albert van den Berg, Gary Botha, John Smit, BJ Botha, CJ van der Linde, Gurthro Steenkamp, Os du Randt.
