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Burger's ban halved to two matches

  • Story Highlights
  • South Africa flanker Schalk Burger has had his four-game ban reduced to two
  • Burger was cited for a dangerous tackle in Springboks' match against Samoa
  • Wales recall Thomas, Charvis and Jones to starting XV against Australia
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PARIS, France -- South Africa's star flanker Schalk Burger has had his four-match suspension halved to two games after a Rugby World Cup appeal hearing in Paris on Thursday.

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The reduction in Burger's ban boosts South Africa's World Cup chances.

Burger, the International Rugby Board's player of the year, was cited for a dangerous tackle on Samoa's scrum-half Junior Polu during his side's comfortable win on Saturday.

He will still miss the crucial pool game against England in Paris on Friday and the clash with Tonga in Lens on Saturday week, but will be available for the final pool game against the United States and the quarterfinals should the Springboks qualify.

The appeal committee, which consisted of chairman Justice Wyn Williams, Bruce Squire QC and Judge Guillermo Tragant, decided that the initial judgement was mistaken in ruling that Burger was not at any time during the incident intending to win the ball.

"The committee concluded that the tackle was a dangerous tackle but noted that the arm of Mr. Burger was withdrawn following contact with the opposing player," the appeals committee said.

On that basis the appeals board decided to categorize the offence at a lower level and reduce the sanction to a two week, or two match, suspension.

Wales coach Gareth Jenkins recalled the experienced trio of Gareth Thomas, Colin Charvis and Stephen Jones to the starting line-up for the crunch World Cup Pool B game against Australia on Saturday in Cardiff.

Charvis, who scored a try as Canada were ultimately beaten in their first match, will fill the blindside flanker role with Jonathan Thomas switching positions to No.8.

Thomas comes in at full-back and regains the captaincy.

Jenkins is calling Saturday's match at the Millenium Stadium the "biggest" of his time in charge. Australia beat Wales 2-0 in a Test series in the summer. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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