CJ Stander to learn fate today after ‘harsh’ red card

CJ Stander’s fate for the rest of Ireland’s tour of South Africa was due to be decided in Johannesburg this morning after his mandatory judicial hearing was adjourned after sitting for five hours in Cape Town yesterday.

The Irish management left Newlands on Saturday determined to mount a stringent defence of their back-row forward after the South African-born flanker was controversially sent off for dangerous play by French referee Mathieu Raynal after 23 minutes of the Ireland’s first Test with South Africa.

Ireland went on to win the match 26-20, their first victory in South Africa, and take a 1-0 lead in this three-game series. Stander’s participation in those two remaining Tests remains in doubt, however after he was dismissed following an attempted charge down of Patrick Lambie’s clearance kick which left the Springboks fly-half concussed and out of Saturday’s second Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.