Scotland hooker Dougie Hall believes disgraced South African flanker Schalk Burger would not have intentionally gouged Luke Fitzgerald in the stormy second Test.

Hall was a victim of gouging last year while playing for Glasgow Warriors against unnamed opponents and watched in horror as Burger repeated the trick on the Ireland winger in the opening minutes of the Lions defeat.

Burger was subsequently cited and banned for eight weeks but Hall said: "I don't think any player would set out deliberately to gouge an opponent but if there was intent Burger deserves to have the book thrown at him.

"For the referee, Christophe Berdos, it would have been a huge call to send him off so early in the test and he has given him the benefit of the doubt.

"On top of that Fitzgerald wasn't injured and that was maybe a bit of mitigation but I find it hard to believe it was deliberate.

"It happened to me in a ruck last season and it's horrible, it's a searing, burning sensation and is the one action that is regarded as being beyond the pale among players."