Springbok flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and France scrumhalf Antoine Dupont will play no further part in the November series after both were suspended.
During France’s 30-26 win over South Africa on Saturday, Du Toit was red-carded for a head clash with Les Bleus centre Jonathan Danty and Dupont was later ejected for upending an airborne Cheslin Kolbe.
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On closer inspection, it was clear that the Bok flanker had been propelled into contact by his teammates and this may explain why Du Toit refused to accept responsibility for the outcome of the collision.
“The player denied that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card,” said an official press release. “However, having reviewed all available evidence… , the judicial committee determined that the player had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card.
“The disciplinary committee found the player’s offending to be “reckless” [and not intentional or deliberate], and although there were some external factors identified with respect to the incident, they were not, on the evidence before the judicial committee, of a sufficient degree to justify a reclassification of the offending to below red card.”
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Du Toit’s “remorse, contrition, exemplary prior disciplinary record and conduct” during his disciplinary hearing saw his World Rugby suspension reduced from six weeks to three, and will be reduced to two matches if he agrees to participating in World Rugby’s coaching intervention class.
Dupont will miss four games, three of those in the Top 14.
Will the Boks bring the high-flying Azzurri back to earth when they clash on Saturday? @mark_keohane and Zels offer their picks ahead of the clash. pic.twitter.com/L0sDAnDI8y
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) November 17, 2022
Photo: Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images
