Sanzar cop more strife, from within their camp

South African rugby boss Oregan Hoskins has launched a broadside at inconsistencies in disciplinary rulings in Super Rugby.

Hoskins said South African players were being harder hit by the judiciary than New Zealand and Australian players. He had made his objections 'loud and clear' at an emergency meeting with key figures in judicial and disciplinary structures.

Hoskins said the decisions against Bismarck du Plessis (four weeks), Frans Steyn (five weeks) and Jean Deysel (seven weeks) were heavy compared to those against Australasian players.

He cited Reds lock James Horwill's second red card of the season and the one week he received for a swinging arm on a player's neck, Reds flanker Liam Gill's one match suspension for a tip tackle and Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst's one week for kneeing a player in the face.

Hoskins said he hadn't wanted to speak out but told South African rugby writer Dan Retief he had had enough.

"I feel we, as administrators, are fighting one fight and do not have the support of our judicial and refereeing panels.

"To be absolutely honest with you, I am at my wits-end, because I am seeing how we are being torn apart on the field of play and by judicial decisions, and we are not getting the support we should be getting from these people, who are part of our organisation [Sanzar]," he said.

Hoskins was at the Sharks-Crusaders match and claimed there were several incidents against Sharks players that had gone unpunished.

While Deysel had done a 'stupid thing' in kneeing Matt Todd in the head, it wasn't injurious, he said.

"But still, it's not allowed, and he got a red card and a heavy suspension, while the others were not even cited," he said.

Meanwhile, South Afric's referees' boss Andre Watson has appeared in front of a disciplinary hearing after a list of grievances, including verbal abuse, victimisation and his abrasive management style were made against him by 24 local officials.