RUGBY NEWS ROUND-UP:THE IRFU has expressed its disappointment with the way that South Africa went about seeking to have Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip cited for eye gouging – an allegation that was subsequently found to be groundless – following Saturday's international at Croke Park.

The South Africans petitioned the match commissioner, Scotland’s Douglas Hunter, to examine footage of the game to substantiate their claim that Heaslip had made contact with the eye area of flanker Heinrich Brussow.

The Boks weren’t able to specify exactly when the incident was alleged to have taken place other than to suggest that it was in the second half. Hunter examined the tapes in detail and found that Heaslip had absolutely no case to answer.

The Irish Times understands that the background to the whole process angered the IRFU as not alone did the Springboks allow the name of the player to become public – the story appeared on a website and certainly wasn’t Irish led – but they also asked for three Irish players to be investigated. One hour after that request they had reduced that number to two and then half an hour later it became one.

The IRFU released a statement last night outlining their concern. It read: “The Six Nations has confirmed to the Irish Rugby Football Union that none of a number of referrals made by South Africa against Ireland players has been upheld by the independent citing commissioner that was present at the game between Ireland and South Africa in Croke Park on Saturday, November 28th.

“The Ireland management is, however, very disappointed that the name of an Ireland player was subsequently associated with eye gouging in the media as a result of one of these unsubstantiated referrals.

“The Ireland management fully support and believe in the integrity of the citing process in place but believe that any referrals in this process should be made only when they are material and substantial. The Ireland management will be making no further comment and consider the matter closed.”

It’s particularly unfair on Heaslip going forward to have his name linked with such an incident, even though the accusations were groundless.

These latest shenanigans will do little to improve relations between the two teams fuelled by comments made by South African captain John Smit is his recent autobiography and also the eye gouging incident involving Schalk Burger and Ireland’s Luke Fitzgerald during the second Test of the Lions tour this summer.

In fairness to Burger he was one of the few South Africans who stayed around shaking hands at the final whistle last Saturday as most of the Springboks ignored the post-match pitch ritual of clapping their opponents off, instead heading for the dressing room without any preamble.