Evidence condemns Krige
November 28, 2002

A compilation of crunching action from last weekend's war at Twickenham between England and South Africa is set to highlight the far from perfect example set by Bok skipper Corne Krige.

The trail of destruction left by the South Africa flanker is highlighted by Sky Sports' Rugby Club this evening as they pick over the pieces left by the hard-hitting encounter.

Amongst his crimes Krige, who later denied his side had deliberately tried to batter England depsite all the hype to the contrary, is seen attempting to punch and head-butt England scrum-half Matt Dawson.

On that occasion he catches the England man with his forearm and catches his own player Andre Pretorius flush in the face with his fist.

Coach Rudolf Straeuli has defended his side against accusations but the evdience against his players and Krige in particular is damning.

The Evening Standard reports that in total, 11 key incidents of violence are highlighted, seven of which came from the Bok skipper.

In one sequence - highlighted as 'Five Seconds of Madness' by Sky - Krige is caught delivering a forearm smash to the head of Dawson, following this with a knee into Lawrence Dallaglio's back, and then running at full pace to stamp on England prop Phil Vickery.

Another clip shows South Africa's full-back Werner Greef, who at one stage was seen pulling England's Neil Back out of a maul by his neck, also kneeing Dallaglio in the back.

Even Krige's early tackle on Jason Robinson, ruled legal, is shown to end with the Springbok captain putting his elbow into the face of the England full-back.

Later, he targets Jonny Wilkinson at a ruck. Krige is pinpointed landing two deliberate punches on the side of Wilkinson's face.

Later, a swinging right fist just misses Dallaglio, but Krige is right on target with the most worrying and reprehensible act of the match. When Dawson is caught in a tackle, Krige dives onto the England scrum-half, leading with his head which smashes into the side of the Northampton player's head.

The final act by Krige is one that referee O'Brien spotted, with the flanker throwing himself, shoulder-first into the back of an England player at a ruck.

The only obvious blow landed by an England player comes from lock Ben Kay's swinging right arm as he attempts to tackle the Springbok scrum-half Bolla Conradie, who was concussed in the incident.

England's casualty list included Wilkinson, out for a month with shoulder damage; Robinson, left nursing an ear-drum problem; Back, who has a cracked cheekbone, and Lewis Moody, who has undergone surgery on a shoulder injury.

The Rugby Club is on Sky Sports 2 tonight at 8pm.

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