Ireland vs South Africa: The Springboks were treated unfairly, says coach Mzwandile Steck after red cards

South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Steck said the Springboks were treated unfairly after red card incidents in their wins over France and Italy.

Loyd de Jager was banned for four matches after being sent off for a harsh tackle on French full-back Thomas Ramos in Paris, while Mostert received a straight red card after a direct tackle on Italian Paolo Garbisi in Turin last weekend.

Mostert faces a disciplinary hearing at the World Rugby Championship this week, with Steck confirming the world champions have appealed against De Jager’s ban.

“Every week we lose players and that’s sad,” Steck told reporters in Dublin ahead of South Africa’s test against Ireland on Saturday.

He added: “I don’t want to say things and then end up getting banned like Rasi [Erasmus, head coach] in the past.

“We never speak badly about other teams. We always try to play in a good spirit, and we hope that things will work out between the four lines. Are we being treated fairly? I don’t think so.”

Stick also pointed to the recent bans on South African internationals Makazole Mapimpi and Jan-Hendrik Wessels while playing for the Sharks and Bulls in the United Rugby Championship.

Winger Mapembe received a five-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Ulster’s Michael Lowry on October 18, while front-rower Wessels is serving an eight-match ban – reduced from nine – for an alleged genital grab on Connacht’s Josh Murphy.

“If you look at the last four red cards with our players, Makazole Mapembe is suspended, he is not on tour at the moment,” Steck said.

“The guy played 47 Test matches, and missed the tour to make it to the 50th. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, a young lad, also missed the tour. Suspended.

“I feel sad after this weekend and everything I saw, even the Fiji-France game, the clean exit that was there, and the Ireland-versus-Australia game, situations that were worse than what these guys were suspended for.

He added: “For them, they were suspended, but the other players will come back and play this week. Certainly somewhere in some way, this is not fair.”

“I don’t think we deserve this as a team. We’re doing everything we can to make sure we send the right message when it comes to the way we play the game.”