Franco Mostert cleared to play against Ireland after red card rescinded

The reported rescinding of Franco Mostert’s red card — downgraded to a yellow after a disciplinary hearing — has cast a harsh spotlight on the standard of officiating in the Springboks’ Test against Italy in Turin.

On Wednesday morning, it was reported that a World Rugby disciplinary committee overturned the straight send-off that the Bok utility-forward received in Turin. They ruled that the incident on Saturday only warranted a yellow card, which meant that the Springboks should’ve had 15 players, and not 14, on the field.

However, what should have been a routine assessment of that collision was turned into a match-altering controversy by referee James Doleman and his TMO. They made a decision on a tackle now proven to be flawed by the outcome of the disciplinary.

The referee, guided by the French TMO, insisted there was “clear head contact” and the action was “always illegal” — language that leads to nothing but a full red card. Yet, how they did not use the bunker review system — a process designed to correct such borderline calls — was baffling.

The independent disciplinary panel’s reported ruling on Wednesday has exposed the weakness of that initial decision. It also underscores the rising inconsistencies in applying rugby’s head-contact framework and raises questions about the competence and influence match officials have on games at the highest level.

For the Springboks, at least, the news brings massive relief — Mostert is now free to be selected for the crucial Test against Ireland in Dublin, where South Africa will look to keep their unbeaten November tour intact.