- Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids said Pieter-Steph du Toit’s availability for Saturday’s Test against Italy will be determined by his hearing on Tuesday.
- Du Toit was sent off for dangerous play in the 11th minute of South Africa’s 30-26 loss to France in Marseille.
- Sending-offs in Test rugby are generally followed by hearings that often lead to suspensions and, in rare cases, exonerations.
In Genoa
Springbok forwards coach Deon Davids said Pieter-Steph du Toit’s World Rugby hearing on Tuesday will determine his availability for Saturday’s Test against Italy in Genoa.
Du Toit was sent off in the 11th minute of last week’s 30-26 loss to France in Marseille for a dangerous cleanout on French centre Jonathan Danty.
Du Toit was inadvertently dragged into a ruck by Damian de Allende and from there, his head made contact with Danty’s face.
English referee Wayne Barnes was left with no other option but to send Du Toit off. Danty left the field and did not return for the rest of the game.
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Davids said they’ll plan as per the outcome of the hearing and will accept whatever emanates from there.
“Pieter-Steph’s hearing is on Tuesday and if we get an answer soon, we’ll plan according to that,” Davids said.
“There are processes that are followed when a player is yellow-carded or red-carded and for Pieter-Steph’s case, the same process will be followed.
“We feel sorry for Pieter-Steph that he got a red card in that clash. The PSDT I know does everything within the rules and doesn’t try to play outside of them.
“We’ll make plans around that, and we’ll be happy to have him in the camp. We’ll accept the outcome of the hearing.”
Davids said the forwards adapted well to Du Toit’s early loss, and while they put themselves under early pressure, they came through the French examination well.
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France took advantage of Du Toit’s absence and took a 13-0 lead, but the Boks bounced back to a point where they led 26-22.
“We got a bit disjointed when we lost Pieter-Steph early, but I must commend the players on how they reacted towards that,” Davids said.
“We put ourselves under pressure at the start, but we recovered well in terms of the rewards and the execution from the lineouts and the scrums.
“The guys did well under those circumstances.”
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber will announce his match-day 23 on Tuesday and kick-off will be at 15:00 (SA time) on Saturday.
