Springboks front Jan-Hendrik Wessels looks set to miss South Africa’s November internationals through suspension, according to reports.
This comes after the forward was accused of groping Connacht’s Josh Murphy during the United Rugby Championship clash in Galway over the weekend.
The incident occurred during the 18th minute of the Bulls‘ 28-27 victory over the Irish Province, which ultimately resulted in a red card for Murphy while Wessels escaped unscathed.
At a breakdown, the Connacht loose forward ended up on the back of Wessels, and the former soon lashes out at the latter when the two go to ground.
Wessels’ ban
Murphy struck the 24-year-old twice before Adamson blasted his whistle to end the passage of play, with Murphy quickly explaining his actions.
“He grabbed me here,” Murphy explained, pointing to his nether region. “Sir, look at it back, he grabbed me here, I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”
Referee Mike Adamson replied: “I understand what you’ve said, I will check that, but listen, what you did is unacceptable…”
The video footage available to TMO Hollie Davidson and the officials did not substantiate Murphy’s claim, meaning that it was the Connacht flanker who was punished for punching the Bulls’ forward, who escaped sanction.
However, according to reports, the tables have been turned with Rapport stating that Wessels has been issued with a nine-week ban that will see him miss all five of the Springboks‘ end-of-year tour matches against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
The report adds that Wessels is likely to appeal the suspension handed down to him by Declan Goodwin, who presided over the disciplinary hearing.
Goodwin also oversaw the controversial four-game ban for Stormers prop Neething Fouche earlier this year. The Stormers attempted to overturn that suspension for a dangerous tackle but were unsuccessful in doing so.
Wessels’ potential ban is another blow to the Boks’ stocks after Makazole Mapimpi was issued with a five-game ban for his tackle on Mike Lowry in the Sharks’ defeat to Ulster in Durban.
In 2020, ex-England prop Joe Marler was hit with a 10-week ban for a similar offence.
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Owen Doyle’s take
The incidents in Galway have already come under the spotlight with ex-Irish referee boss Owen Doyle slamming Adamson’s handling of the events.
“When Connacht’s Josh Murphy, suddenly angered, turned and hit the Bulls’ Jan-Hendrik Wessels in a ruck, it was clearly a reaction to something,” he wrote in his Irish Times column.
“Murphy insisted to Adamson that it was, as the referee politely put it, to do with his groin area. Testicle grabbing must be a straight red card without replacement, but the camera angles failed to confirm what Murphy had said.
“Of course, no blame whatsoever attaches to the officials for the lack of intel, but I have to take issue with what happened next.”
He continued: “The TMO, Hollie Davidson, called Murphy’s action accurately: ‘I’m not seeing a high degree of danger.’ The referee repeated that ‘we’re not seeing a high degree of danger’ and also added that it met the yellow card threshold. He then asked for confirmation that, in the absence of a bunker official, the decision was down to him. Given the context of the offence, just a penalty would have been a fair call.
“But disbelief followed as Adamson handed Murphy a 20-minute red card, meaning he would have to be replaced. Where that colour came from is a mystery, but it seems the referee got his wires completely crossed.”