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.

Referee Raynal and his Scottish TMO Jim Yuille agreed a red card was applicable as in their view Stander had made no attempt to charge down Lambie’s kick before the Munster man’s hip connected with his former South Africa U20s team-mate’s head.

Ireland boss Joe Schmidt suggested that the apparent severity of Lambie’s injury had had an impact on Raynal’s decision, the referee brandishing the red card as the Springbok out-half was receiving treatment on the pitch surrounded by medics and a motorised stretcher cart.

“I thought the red card was very, very harsh to be honest,” Schmidt said post-match. “CJ’s got both hands extended, once you’re in the air you can’t change your trajectory. The one thing I would say, I think Pat Lambie’s a super player, I certainly hope that Pat’s okay.

“I know CJ and Pat are friends, and that they know each other. CJ was upset that Pat was hurt and also upset that he had to leave the field. It’s one of those thing that happens. I think, sometimes, when there is an injury like that, the consequence is that a card comes out and that was the result.”

It is understood the IRFU’s contention made to judiciary officer Terry Willis, from Australia, was based on their view that Stander did have his arms out in an attempt to charge down the ball as it left Lambie’s boot.