Springbok ill-discipline angers captain Smit

A visibly annoyed Springbok captain John Smit has warned his side that ill-discipline will not be tolerated after a second player was suspended on their brief New Zealand tour.

"Discipline is vital," he said after back-to-back suspensions in the two Tri-Nations Tests against the All Blacks brought back memories of the dark reputation of some South African teams before Smit took over the captaincy.

Wing Jean de Villiers was suspended yesterday for two weeks for a dangerous tackle on Rene Ranger in the second Test in Wellington, which was won by the All Blacks 31-17.

Following the first Test the previous week, which the All Blacks won 32-12, lock Bakkies Botha received a nine-week ban for head-butting halfback Jimmy Cowan.

The All Blacks scored freely against an undermanned Springboks in the opening stages of both Tests when Botha (ruck infringement, first Test) and Danie Rossouw (kicking, second Test) spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin.

Discipline is an issue which Smit has targeted since taking over the Springboks leadership in 2004 and when questioned about the latest suspensions he expressed disappointment at having been let down.

"It is certainly something that has been discussed at length for a number of years, especially with the image we had pre-2003 and the work we did to clean that up," he said.

"It's certainly not the type of question I want to be answering five or six or seven years later.

"Discipline is vital. If guys are seen to be stepping outside of the team it does get dealt with internally."

Smit said the yellow cards put the Springboks on the backfoot early in both Tests, and he also had no argument with the ban imposed on senior lock Botha saying it was "just reward for silly behaviour".

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw - target of the boot that led to Rossouw's yellow card - was unconcerned.

"It wasn't very much at all," McCaw said. "He got done lashing out so (it was) probably a bit stupid really."