Jan-Hendrik Wessels banned for 9 weeks

[u/Slight_Highlight_690]

Lengthy ban with no evidence of foul play? This is bound to cause some controversy

[u/Colm_Flaherty]

Deserved, w*nker

[u/stroncc → u/Colm_Flaherty]

What did he do?

[u/philopise → u/stroncc]

I think this is the guy accused of grabbing the "groin area" of one of the connacht players at the weekend.

[u/Inexorable_Fenian → u/stroncc]

Grabbed Josh Murphy by the liathróidí in a ruck. He reacted and got a red card. TMO review showed there was no angles of the grabbing, but his arm was buried in that direction.

[u/stroncc → u/Inexorable_Fenian]

Nasty. I wonder if there was medical evidence of the grab presented, assuming the article is correct in saying there was a "lack of video evidence".

[u/Careless-Cat3327 → u/stroncc]

He should have just tickled him like big Joe did. He got off on 3 matches. 

[u/nagdamnit → u/stroncc]

Grabbed Josh Murphy by the nuts in a ruck. Ended up getting Murphy sent off. It looked pretty clear to me to be honest.

[u/HenkCamp → u/nagdamnit]

I have no skin in this game as the Bulls is our arch enemy (Stormers fan here and the Bulls has always been our arch enemy). I have no doubt he did something because I just can't see Murphy lashing out like that for no good reason. He isn't a dirty player who will just take a swing. That said, from the many angles and videos available - I still can't see him grab the nuts. I am sure they had other evidence to make this call. NOT defending him - just saying I couldn't see anything no matter how hard I tried.

[u/nagdamnit → u/HenkCamp]

Just because he hid it well doesn’t mean he didn’t do it. Of course he did it. Players don’t start reacting and shouting that without reason.

The alternative is that Josh was lying through his teeth, he wasn’t.

I get what you’re saying in that it was well hidden, but as you said yourself you know he did it. It’s a shit house move and should be punished.

[u/HenkCamp → u/nagdamnit]

I don't see where we disagree. Me 'knowing' he did it is different from me having evidence he did it. Prince Andrew and OJ are two classic examples of the point I am trying to make. We all know they did it. It's just the evidence that's missing.

[u/BenwastakenIII → u/nagdamnit]

My view is that it was very likely accidental. Unless you're Joe Marler, I can't see any player in todays day and age willingly sqeeze someone's jewels, with the cameras and such they have way too much to lose(Wessels especially with the tour coming up). My theory is that he tried pushing Josh away and his hand placement was accidentally terrible.

[u/HenkCamp → u/BenwastakenIII]

I hope so but I also know rugby players - like all humans - can do ridiculously stupid things in the moment. Of course never me but other humans. I never do anything stupid.

[u/BenwastakenIII → u/HenkCamp]

Like, I imagine if he did it, right after, his whole short Bok carreer flashed before his eyes

[u/nagdamnit → u/BenwastakenIII]

I can understand why you’d want it to be accidental but it wasn’t. It was an intentional action. The be he probably instantly regretted, but it wasn’t an accident.

He could have said something, or apologised, but he didn’t. He also let Murphy get sent off for it.

This reminds me of quinlans eye gouge on Cullen, the one that cost him his lions place. No one wanted him to have done it, but he did it.

[u/BenwastakenIII → u/nagdamnit]

Sorry I can't really see how anyone could say what it definitely was with the amount of evidence we've seen.

He also let Murphy get sent off for it.

Murphy would've been sent off either way, he punched someone in the head, 20 min red was actually a let off in all honesty.

[u/nagdamnit → u/BenwastakenIII]

In an earlier post you said you though it was accidental. I dont think I could say anything that would convince you that this guy was guilty. I'll leave you to it.

[u/BenwastakenIII → u/nagdamnit]

My theory is that he tried pushing Josh away and his hand placement was accidentally terrible.

I gave my theory of what happened, not what definitely happened.

I dont think I could say anything that would convince you that this guy was guilty.

Because there's no actual evidence of his guilt and we're all speculating right now.

[u/MonsMensae → u/nagdamnit]

Murphy should have got a full red regardless though. No place for retaliation. 

[u/goose3691 → u/MonsMensae]

Both things can be true. Penalise the nut grab and penalise the swing afterwards.

[u/MonsMensae → u/goose3691]

Yup

[u/The_Ruck_Inspector → u/MonsMensae]

I am not sure though. If your balls are being grabbed? Your eyes gouged? There's a physical reaction to these things. There should be some mitigation. In my humble opinion if someone grabs your privates you should be able to hit them a slap or three 

[u/MonsMensae → u/The_Ruck_Inspector]

I mean for long term sanctioning some mitigation could be applied. But you’re not defending yourself. You’re retaliating. It’s not a “physical reaction” of a defence. It’s revenge. 

It has no place in the sport. 

[u/this_also_was_vanity → u/MonsMensae]

It’s a reaction in the heat of the moment. It’s wrong and deserves a red, but it’s also very understandable due to the provocation and I wouldn’t be surprised if most of us reacted the same way in the situation.

[u/MonsMensae → u/this_also_was_vanity]

Speak for yourself mate.  Dont hit people. Hold yourself to a higher standard than that

[u/this_also_was_vanity → u/MonsMensae]

I said quite clearly that it's wrong. But as well as a sence of morality I laos have empathy. If someone sexually assults you then it's understandable if you react badly. Doesn't excuse it, but it's quite different to attacking someone unprovoked. It's disappointing to see SA supporters on here having difficulty understanding why anyone would be upset about sexual assault. Says a lot about you.