After a long discussion with his assistants, Australian referee Angus Gardner brandished a straight red card in the direction of Lood de Jager. The officials had decided that not only did the offence reach the yellow card threshold, but it also reached red. World Rugby clarified in August that the straight red card would be applicable for acts that are “highly dangerous and intentional”. It can take the shape of a clear, unequivocal statement that it was correct not to go to the bunker – that the issuing of a red card was appropriate. Shrugging off the red card, the Springboks got down to business and demonstrated that the loss of a player can be overcome.
