South Africa Rugby Union (Saru) president Oregan Hoskins will raise the issue of double standards at disciplinary hearings when he attends a Sanzar (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) meeting in Perth later this week.

Hoskins, addressing a media gathering on Monday, admitted that he has been irked by the perceived double standards when it comes to disciplinary hearings involving Springboks and their opponents.

This follows a Sanzar judicial hearing that suspended Bok hooker Bismarck du Plessis for three weeks on Sunday — following an incident in the South Africa's 30-28 Tri-Nations victory over New Zealand at Carisbrook, Dunedin, at the weekend.

Du Plessis was found guilty of breaching Law 10.4(k) by making contact with the eye area of New Zealand flank Adam Thompson in the Boks' historic win at Carisbrook — the first South African triumph on New Zealand soil in a decade and the first ever Test win for a Springbok team in Dunedin.

Leniency on Thorn

The ban slapped on Du Plessis follows the very lenient one-week suspension handed down to All Black lock Brad Thorn the week before, following a vicious spear tackle on Bok hooker John Smit — who underwent a groin operation late last week and has been ruled out of the remainder of the Tri-Nations.

Hoskins on Monday confirmed an earlier statement by the Springbok management that they would not be appealing against the three-week suspension of Du Plessis.

"We decided for logistical reasons not to contest the ban," Hoskins said.

"I feel we would have had a very good case (on appeal), but having discussed it with (team) manager Andy Marinos we agreed that it would be better to leave it and move on to Australia where we have to prepare for a Test match rather than have to leave Andy behind to organise the appeal when he is sorely needed in Perth."

Hoskins also came out in defence of Du Plessis, saying he did not think the player had intended to harm his opponent — in contrast to Thorn, who deliberately dumped the Bok captain on the ground.

"I saw the video footage of the Bismarck du Plessis incident and could not see culpability on his part," Hoskins said.

Hoskins said he is "fully aware" of his roles and responsibilities on the Sanzar committees and will certainly "voice his concerns" at that level.

"I will raise it (the lack of consistency at DC hearings) at the Sanzar meeting in Perth later this week."

365