South Africa's preparations for the knockout stages of the World Cup were hit hard yesterday when star utility back Francois Steyn was cited for biting in Sunday's match against Tonga.
Citing commissioner Jean-Claude Legendre accused Steyn of biting the finger of Tongan wing Joseph Vaka in a scufflein the second half of their Pool A match in Lens.
If Steyn is found guilty it will almost certainly end his involvement in the World Cup as the International Rugby Board's recommended sentence for biting ranges from six months to three years.
It is the second citing for the Springboks after Schalk Burger was pinned for a dangerous tackle in the match against Samoa and banned for two matches.
Steyn has denied biting the Tongan winger, reports the Pretoria News.
"I stood up and threw him to the ground," he said.
Springbok management was putting together a strong a legal team and flew in lawyers from England to defend him.
The Springbok management are furious about the claim and intend mounting a massive challenge.
"The hearing is expected to take place this morning," said Springbok media liaison Vusi Kama.
"We stand fully behind Frans when he tells us he did not bite the other player, so we'll be pleading not guilty at the hearing. We're not taking this lightly."
"I would never bite another player," said Steyn. He was upset at being yellow-carded in the 63rd minute of the match by Wayne Barnes, the English referee.
Steyn said he had never bitten Vaka and had, in fact, been playing peacemaker in the incident.
"I saw Bakkies wrestling with one of the Tongans and I went to go and break it up. As I was doing so, Vaka came rushing in from the side and threw me to the ground. I stood up and threw him to the ground.
"Then when the referee was speaking to us he said I bit him. I was shocked and told the referee there was no way I had bitten him. I would never bite another player. That's not how I play the game. I was very angry that I was sent off."
