du Plessis suspended for 3 weeks

Not sure what the difference is between banned and suspended, but Bismarck du Plessis has both, in my opinion. Once again, a reflection at just how dirty the Boks are when they play the All Blacks....

This from Radio New Zealand.

Springboks hooker Bismarck du Plessis has been suspended for three weeks
following an alleged eye gouging incident in Saturday night's tri nations test against the All Blacks.
Du Plessis was cited under Law 10.4 (k) for contact with the eyes or eye area.
SANZAR judicial officer Kim Garling determined there had been contact between the left hand of Du Plessis and Thomson's face.
His closed hand had first come into contact with Thomson's cheek and then his eye area, but not the eye. Mr Garling concluded that the contact was careless and not deliberate.
At the hearing, Du Plessis acknowledged that his fist had come into contact with Thomson's lower cheek and then, as it rolled across his face, his left hand knuckle appeared to come into contact with the face near the eye area but did not come into contact with his eye.
In delivering short reasons about the incident, Mr Garling said that "any action by
a player in which fingers, a hand, or a knuckle comes into contact with the eye or eye area of a player is very serious and the IRB recommended penalties reflect that because of the potential for permanent damage to the sight of a player."
He said Du Plessis had conceded the carelessness of his actions at the first available opportunity when the matter came before the Judiciary and had shown regret for his actions.
Mr Garling said this was the first blemish in Du Plessis' playing career which, apart from his early years in rugby from the age of five, had encompassed eight seasons of professional rugby at a first class level. He was also highly regarded by his peers.
Mr Garling said the appropriate entry point for sanction was at the lower end, as the contact, while unacceptable, was minimal.