South Africa's Tri-Nations triumph has been tempered slightly with the suspension of centre Jaque Fourie for a dangerous tackle during Saturday's tense 32-29 win against New Zealand.
Fourie was cited by match citing commissioner Scott Nowland for the tackle on All Blacks midfielder Ma'a Nonu in the 70th minute of the match at Waikato Stadium.
At a hearing in Hamilton on Sunday the 26-year-old was banned for four weeks despite his insistence that the lifting tackle was not intentional, but reckless, and was at the lower end of the sanction scale.
After viewing video evidence Sanzar judicial officer Paul Tully found there was a 'reckless lifting tackle which was clearly dangerous and placed the player in a vulnerable position when he landed on his neck and shoulder'.
Fourie is suspended from rugby up to and including 19 October.
