Overview
- Referee Angus Gardner ruled Lood de Jager’s shoulder-to-head contact on Thomas Ramos a permanent red, leaving South Africa down to 14 for the entire second half.
- South Africa overcame the dismissal to defeat France 32-17 in Paris, closing with three unanswered tries to secure a commanding win.
- Ex-All Blacks Angus Taʻavao, Stephen Donald and Mils Muliaina said a straight red was harsh and argued slow-motion replays distorted the incident compared with real time.
- KEO columnist Mark Keohane condemned the TMO process as muddled, said the incident should have gone via a bunker review, and reported that Ramos was not sent for an HIA.
- Rassie Erasmus accepted the decision yet said a 20-minute sanction would have been more appropriate, highlighting the team’s poise and tactical shifts such as introducing lineout specialist Ruan Nortje.