Several former All Blacks have leapt to the defence of lock Lood de Jager following his controversial red card in the Springboks’ win over France in Paris.
They also praised the world champions’ evolving style under pressure.
The towering second-rower was sent off midway through the Test after a shoulder-to-the-head hit on France fullback Thomas Ramos, with the incident reviewed at length by the match officials.
Ex-All Blacks prop Angus Taʻavao believes a straight red card was harsh.
“How tall is Lood de Jager – two-plus metres? I don’t think he could’ve got any lower,” Taʻavao said on The Breakdown. “The whole red-card process was confusing. For me, that’s not a full-blown red where you’re gone for 40 minutes.”
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Former flyhalf Stephen Donald echoed those sentiments, saying slow-motion replays exaggerated the incident.
“In real time it looks completely different to slow-mo. He’d already dipped and committed to that tackle height. Slow it down and Ramos is on his knees and looks a sitting duck – real time tells another story,” Donald said.
Ex-All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina agreed that the red-card process lacked clarity.
“I don’t like that we ended up with a straight red you can’t replace, but the pathway to get there was messy,” he said. “If it’s a red, say so – don’t blur it with the review process.”
POLL: Did Lood deserve straight red card?
Donald also credited the Boks’ composure under fire.
“Early on the French forwards threw all of their weight around what, a 930kg pack? They started to get some dominance. But the Boks still found ways to win moments.”
“They withstood a huge early barrage, then changed the pace at set piece,” added Muliaina. “Their tight five were so quick to the next job the French big men couldn’t even get there.”
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Wilson said it had been a successful season for the Boks.
“South Africa know how to win, pure and simple. They handle pressure, they can change their game, and they’ve continued to grow while giving others opportunities.”
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Photo: Xavier Laine/Getty Images
