The Springbok centre Jaque Fourie has been banned for four weeks for a dangerous tackle in Saturday's 30-13 loss to to Australia, dealing another blow to South Africa's defence of their Tri-Nations rugby title.
Fourie will miss two domestic Curry Cup matches and their third Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks next month, after being cited for a spear tackle on Wallabies' number eight Richard Brown.
Fourie, who received a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle on All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu in last year's campaign, was yellow carded for the offence as the world champions fell to their third defeat in three Tri-Nations matches.
Australia's first five Quade Cooper was also cited for a dangerous tackle, but was handed a two-week ban ruling him out of this week's test against the All Blacks in Melbourne.
He'll also miss the second Bledisloe Cup test in Christchurch next week.
The South African winger Jean de Villiers was suspended for two weeks for a dangerous tackle during the Springboks' 31-17 loss to the All Blacks in Wellington, while lock Bakkies Botha was banned for nine weeks for headbutting halfback Jimmy Cowan in the opening tri nations test of the season.
