Ex-Springbok accuses Italy prop of ‘milking’ Jasper Wiese headbutt and hits out at ‘against the spirit of the game’ claims

Former Springboks prop Hanyani Shimange has accused Italian front rower Danilo Fischetti of milking the headbutt that led to a straight red card to Jasper Wiese.

Wiese has since been slapped with a four-match ban for his actions in the 20th minute of the match when he and Fischetti exchanged handbags before the Bok forward lashed out.

Referee Andrew Brace reviewed the events and deemed that Wiese’s actions warranted a full red card and duly issued the sending off, reducing the Springboks to 14 men for the remainder of the game.

Danilo Fischetti accused of milking headbutt

Speaking on SuperSport’s Verdict show, Shimange dismissed claims that South Africa’s tactics in the second Test against Italy were against the spirit of the game and pointed to Fischetti’s antics as a ploy that could be deemed as unsportsmanlike.

“There has been a lot said about it. I don’t see anything wrong with it,” Shimange said in reference to the Springboks’ ploy to get a scrum with the opening action of the match.

“You read the comments on social media that say it’s against the spirit of the game, but then there is an Italian guy trying to fake a little touch on the head, trying to get a player sent off. Is that in the spirit of the game?

“Also, I think that’s a fallacy. You want to play to your strengths, you want to set a statement nice and early.

“It’s a pity that ended in a free kick [from the ensuing scrum], but that’s a nice way to set the statement.”

Spirit of the game debate

With regards to the kick-off ploy, Shimange also pointed to the fact that it is not a new tactic with French clubs deploying the tactic in the past, something that All Blacks boss Scott Robertson admitted his club Perpignan did during his playing days.

All the French clubs used to do this years ago,” the former prop said.

He milks that”

Burger went on to address the headbutt and believed that Fischetti was so much of a nuisance in the first Test match that the Springboks targeted him in the second.

“I remember Willem de Waal [former Cheetahs and Western Province fly-half] told me about it and he was told, ‘Just kick the ball directly into touch’.

I don’t see I don’t see anything wrong with that… they want to implement their game plan. They want to make a statement early on, go for it. It’s been done before.

“The French clubs did it, whether it be to get a scrum or into a punch up.”

So it’s a pity. Look, Jasper is going to be in trouble because of his disciplinary record, and that’s the worrying thing. He needed a lot of minutes because he’s been injured.

“I mentioned earlier about the spirit of the game, Fischetti milks that, he jumps on a flight, now this guy is going to be suspended…now is that in the spirit of the game? We get criticised for that short kick.”