Sanity has prevailed and Springbok lock Franco Mostert’s red card has been rescinded and downgraded to a yellow, meaning the Boks can select him for the clash against Ireland on Saturday if needed.
But the sour taste of a weekend of red cards remains.
Mostert wasn’t the only player who forced the disciplinary committee to take a step back as Japan’s Harry Hockings also had a red card rescinded for a similar tackle that the committee found the referees overstepped their mark.
The damage from the weekend’s action has not settled yet, and the Boks now have confirmation that they played for almost 60 minutes with 14 men because the officials got it wrong.
While referee James Doleman has taken a lot of flack for his performance in the game it was the TMO Tual Trainini and assistants Ben O’Keeffe and Jeremy Rozier who were adamant that head contact had occurred and therefore made the argument for a permanent red card as opposed to a yellow on review in the bunker.
DECISION PROVED WRONG
That decision was proven to be wrong as replays showed the initial contact was on the chest and Mostert should never have been given a permanent red card.
🟥 Franco Mostert's red card.
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) November 15, 2025
Insane decision. #ITAvRSA pic.twitter.com/PskZt8S2hu
During the match Doleman told captains Siya Kolisi and Nacho Brex that the TMO confirmed there was “clear head contact” - and because of this the tackle was seen as “always illegal” and therefore a permanent red card.
“Therefore, we don’t apply any mitigation; we acknowledge there is another tackler [Ethan Hooker], it doesn't always apply to an illegal action, it’s going to be a permanent red card,” Doleman said during the game.
The Disciplinary Committee didn’t agree and confirmed that it should have been no more than a yellow.
The Boks have privately fumed and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick went as far as saying he felt the Boks weren’t being treated fairly by the officials.
The statement for the hearing before a disciplinary committee chaired by Stephen Hardy (Australia), who was joined by former players Ofisa Tonu’u (New Zealand) and Jamie Corsi (Wales) agreed with the Boks; assessment that the initial contact wasn’t to the head.
“Having conducted a detailed review of all available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence and submissions made by and on behalf of the player, the disciplinary committee determined that although there had been head contact and an act of foul play occurring within the incident, the offending did not reach the red card threshold,” the statement said.
CONTACT WAS FIRST TO SHOULDER
“Rather, the evidence established that the initial contact made by the player was directly to the shoulder of Italy 10 with there being “daylight” between the shoulder contact and head/neck area of Italy 10.
"Head contact was then found to have occurred, but was found to be secondary to the initial shoulder contact and made with much lower force and without the requisite level of “danger” required under World Rugby’s head contact process to make the offending reach the red card threshold.
“The red card has accordingly been dismissed and will be expunged from the player’s disciplinary record. As a result, the player is now free to play and available for selection this weekend.”
That last line is significant, as Lood de Jager got a red card the previous week and is out for four weeks on suspension and Ruan Nortje was the only other five lock standing ahead of the big game against Ireland.
With Ireland having won four of the last five outings against the Boks, and Rassie Erasmus still to notch up a victory in the Emerald Isle, the stakes are high and Mostert’s decision will come as a boost to the team.
But the bad taste of poor decision-making remains, with the rugby world collectively holding their breath as to what could happen this weekend.
