Just now: Springbok lock Lood de Jager was given a permanent red card just before half time of Saturday night’s Test in Paris.

De Jager’s shoulder made contact with the head of France fullback Thomas Ramos, who was dipping and on one knee having been partially tackled by Cobus Reinach.

After consulting with the TMO, referee Angus Bell gave De Jager a straight red.

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The incident happened after a dangerous tackle in which de Jager made contact with the head of a French player, believed to be fly-half Thomas Ramos. The referee, after reviewing the footage, decided the challenge was reckless and merited a straight red card.

The sending-off came at a crucial moment in the game. The first half had been tightly contested, with both sides showing strong defensive structures and heavy physical battles up front. France went into the break with a narrow lead, but South Africa were forced to play the remainder of the match with only fourteen men. Losing a player like de Jager—a key figure in the Springbok pack and an expert in line-outs—placed the team under immense pressure in the set-pieces and defensive phases.

The red card also shifted the momentum of the game. France began to take advantage of the extra space on the field, stretching the South African defence and maintaining territorial dominance. The Springboks, on the other hand, had to readjust their strategy, bringing on substitutes earlier and tightening their defensive play.

Beyond the match itself, the decision carries further implications. De Jager is expected to face a disciplinary hearing for the dangerous tackle, and depending on the findings, he could receive a suspension that may rule him out of the remainder of South Africa’s European tour. The Springbok coaching team will also need to reassess their discipline in contact situations, as repeated infringements or cards can cost crucial Test matches.

For the Springboks, the incident serves as a reminder of how quickly the course of a match can change through a moment of poor judgment. Rugby has become increasingly strict on head-contact tackles to protect players’ safety, and teams must adapt their tackling techniques accordingly. Despite the setback, the Springboks showed determination to continue fighting, but playing with one man less against a strong French side in front of a home crowd proved to be a huge challenge.