Yes, the RWC citing system is serious and it’s adding another dimension to a Rugby World Cup that is already off to a better start than anyone might have hoped.

England’s captain, Paul Vickery has been suspended for two matches including this Saturday’s big one against South Africa while Boks hitman Schalk Burger is gone for four – which means the quarter final as well.

Vickery might be lucky to have only copped two for kicking US centre Paul Emerick. Maybe he was helped by Emerick himself being suspended for five games, ie. the rest of the USA’s tournament plus two.

Burger was extremely fortunate not to have been sent off for his high and in-the-air tackle against Samoa – one of several mistakes by Kiwi ref Paul Honiss that should mean he doesn’t hold a whistle again in this Cup.

One could be forgiven for thinking Honiss just doesn’t like Samoans as he turned in a performance that’s been mercilessly bagged by disinterested observers e.g. The Guardian — “Samoa crumble in face of Habana and Honiss” — and The Independent — “…Paul Honiss, whose performance plumbed depths previously unvisited by officials at a World Cup, including his good self. And he has a fair bit of history in this regard, does Honiss”.

There’s still comedy to be enjoyed, such as RWC judicial officer hearing Burger’s case, Terry Willis, reporting “several mitigating factors including Burger’s remorse in relation to the incident, his excellent conduct during the hearing and his good disciplinary record”. Burger had pleaded not guilty – so much for remorse; he didn’t thump or choke anyone during the hearing – so that must be “excellent conduct”; and why he hasn’t been sent off more often is a mystery to those of us who watch replays closely.

As it all turns out, England will miss Vickery more than South Africa will miss Burger this Saturday, increasing the odds of a Boks victory and Australia therefore playing England in the quarter final.

The second-best thing about the RWC so far has been Argentina’s defeat of France, raising the possibility of the semi-finals being a purely southern hemisphere affair.

But the best aspect has been the competitiveness of many of the lesser countries for at least half the game until major powers wear them down and professionalism kicks in. It happened again last night when the Pumas were only ahead 6-3 at half time against lowly Georgia.

Canada, the USA, Georgia, Portugal, Nambia and even Japan have much to be proud of.

Samoa is not included in that group because it showed it remains a power itself – one that could do much more if it had adequate resources and a better referee. The spirit-of-rugby story of this RWC so far is the French buying the islanders’ meals – they didn’t have enough budget to cover food.