South Africa's Springboks secured a 32-14 victory over Italy in Turin despite playing most of the match with 14 players after lock Franco Mostert received a red card in the 11th minute. The team is appealing the decision, citing inconsistencies in refereeing, following a similar incident involving Lood de Jager against France the previous week. Coaches express frustration over the impact on players and the game's fairness.
The Springboks' end-of-year tour in Europe has been marked by controversy over red cards, with the latest incident occurring during their 32-14 win against Italy at Allianz Stadium in Turin on November 16, 2025. In the 11th minute, referee James Doleman issued a straight red card to lock Franco Mostert for a tackle on Italy flyhalf Paolo Garbisi, deemed dangerous due to alleged head contact. However, analysis shows Mostert, standing at two meters tall, tackled low with his shoulder hitting Garbisi's chest, while teammate Ethan Hooker's simultaneous low tackle from the side contributed to the force.
Television match official Tual Trainini urged the red card, despite initial on-field consideration of a yellow. Doleman stated, “The TMO has confirmed there is clear head contact,” though no direct head contact occurred, and Mostert's right arm was blocked from wrapping by Hooker's body. This marks the second consecutive match where the Springboks played short-handed, following Lood de Jager's red card against France on November 8 in Paris for a high tackle on Thomas Ramos, despite de Jager having one knee on the ground.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus voiced frustration post-match, saying, “Losing two five-locks in two games for not going lower than they can is tough to understand.” He highlighted the team's efforts since before the 2023 World Cup to train for lower tackling heights under head of athletic performance Andy Edwards. Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick echoed this, stating, “If you look at the actions of Franco and even Lood de Jager... he has done everything by the book,” and questioned the fairness compared to unpunished incidents elsewhere.
The Boks are appealing both red cards, seeking overturns and explanations. Erasmus suggested mandatory bunker reviews for potential reds to ensure consistency, noting, “I always thought we wanted to get to 20-minute red cards and have a re-check on that.” Previous suspensions, including Makazole Mapimpi's six-week ban, have also affected the squad, with Stick adding, “Surely somewhere, somehow, this is not fair.” These events underscore broader concerns about rugby's tackle laws and officiating balance.