Watch: South Africa receive controversial red card in second successive match as Franco Mostert dismissed against Italy
Published 15/11/2025 at 15:44 GMT
South Africa received a second permanent red card in successive games as Franco Mostert was sent off in their Quilter Nations Series win over Italy. The lock was dismissed for a dangerous tackle on Italy's Paolo Garbisi just 12 minutes into the contest, a week after fellow Springbok lock Lood de Jager was given the same sanction against France. In both games, South Africa went on to victory.
'South Africa see the flash of a red card' - Springboks reduced to 14 for second week in a row
Video credit: TNT Sports
South Africa were controversially reduced to 14 men for the second successive game as Franco Mostert was sent off during their Quilter Nations Series victory over Italy.
The lock was deemed to have made shoulder contact with the head of Italy fly-half Paolo Garbisi, while not attempting to wrap in the tackle, and after the incident was raised by the Television Match Official (TMO), referee James Doleman brandished the red card.
It comes just a week after Springboks lock Lood de Jager was sent off during the win over France for a similar offence following a lengthy debate between officials.
Mostert’s red card came just 12 minutes into the match against Italy, with neither side yet to register a point, leaving South Africa to play with 14 men for well over an hour.
Despite the dismissal, Rassie Erasmus’s side once again went on to claim victory, winning 32-14 in Turin.
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De Jager receives permanent red for 'intentional and reckless' head-high tackle
Video credit: TNT Sports
Former South Africa captain Bob Skinstad was adamant it should not have been a red card, saying it was inconclusive whether there was any head contact.
Speaking on TNT Sports, he said at half-time: "I’m not here to cry over spilt milk. There's the tackle; he’s very silly, he doesn't wrap with his arm, and he's got the shoulder ready.
"The thing is, he hits the middle of the chest, head contact is what creates the permanent red card, for me, that should go to the bunker.
"And then you go, ‘It's not a head-on-head, great, yellow card or yellow card plus 20 minutes’.
"But to ruin a whole game? I’m saying that as a rugby fan, not a South African fan, I promise you."
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'We've got to deal with the consequences' - panel discuss controversial South Africa red card
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He added: "[The referee] said, ‘I’ve gone to the TMO and he said he could definitely see head-on-head contact’.
"Is that the referee then saying, ‘From the screen, I can't see head-on-head contact, but the TMO has seen it’?
"Anyway, silly tackle, he shouldn't have tucked the arm, and he's gone in with the shoulder, so he's going to get himself in trouble anyway, so we've just got to deal with the consequences."
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It is rare in modern rugby for a permanent red card to be shown, with a 20-minute red card often handed out instead.
Former Italy captain Marco Bortolami agreed with Skinstad. "I don’t think it’s a red, a straight red", he said. "I don’t think there's enough evidence of a clear and obvious head contact.
"We want those big calls to come in when there's something material and very clear, [this] is probably not the occasion."
Watch and stream every game of the Quilter Nations Series live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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