Schalk Burger alleged eye gouge on David Pocock

Saturday’s Tri Nations game between the Wallabies and the Springboks resulted in two players being suspended for dangerous tackles, but many felt that another should have been cited after a scuffle between Schalk Burger and David Pocock.

Pocock was all over the park all night, showing that he’s fast becoming a serious force to be reckoned with when it comes to the break down. He dominated the Springboks on numerous occasions, stealing ball and making a nuisance of himself when possible.

In this clip Pocock can be seen slowing the ball down, being told to leave it as Burger goes in to get it, and then driving through as the two players get themselves in a tangle.

Pocock gets the better of the Springbok as he drives him to the ground with an elbow to the throat, to which Burger retaliates with what looks like a rake across the eye area.

There have been widespread claims that this is a blatant eye gouge and many are incensed that there hasn’t been further repercussions. Referee George Clancy and his officials ignored the scrap, and there have since been no citings.

Burger was infamously found guilty of 'making contact with the eye area' in the second test against the British & Irish Lions last year. He received an eight week ban.

You’d think that if there was indeed any form of contact with the eyes here, Pocock, and indeed the Australian management, would have made more of a fuss about it and a citing would have been the next obvious step.

What do you think – shocked there was no citing, or as Phil Kearns says, there’s nothing in it?

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