As far as iconic international rugby series go, the battle between the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions in 2009 is undoubtedly one of the most memorable.

South Africa ultimately went on to win the series 2-1, clinching this result after a brutal second Test that was undoubtedly one of the most physical rugby encounters of all time, and in fact there were many incidents that crossed the line.

In one example, Springbok loose forward Schalk Burger was sent from the field after an eye-going incident with young Irish wing Luke Fitzgerald.

Not the finest hour for iconic Springbok

At the time, the legendary South African loose forward got away with only receiving a yellow card, but he was later cited and, after a disciplinary hearing in Pretoria, banned for eight weeks

Speaking to Genting Casino alongside fellow Lions legends, Fitzgerald relived his memories of the bloody second Test, and particularly took aim at Burger.

“The eye gouge – it was kind of unusual. Us wingers generally try to stay out rucks as much as possible, but I found myself somehow in a ruck next to Schalk Burger and it wasn’t a pleasant experience.

“It was mad – he gouged me, on his 50th Test cap as well! I found myself wrestling with him; which is never a good idea, but he decides to gouge me on top of it after making mincemeat out of me.

“It was a bad start to the Test, I had double-vision for pretty much the rest of the game really. He only got a yellow card for it, which was the big talking point of that tour, even though the linesman told the referee at the time ‘he’s gouged him’.

“He asked me and I said ‘he did gouge me, I don’t know what to say and don’t want to be a rat, but he did do that’. 

“It was unfortunate and they were very lucky to get away with that one. The pressure of the crowd and the atmosphere at Loftus Versfeld, all of those things were probably contributing factors to it.

“In some ways, it was good that it didn’t ruin his big day, which would have been a disaster for a guy who’s an all-time great, to have cost them a test match on his 50th cap.”

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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/springboks/former-test-player-this-springbok-eye-gouged-me/