Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ options for a replacement for Duane Vermeulen ahead of the test season were narrowed somewhat by the news that Jasper Wiese copped a six game ban for his red card during his final game for Leicester Tigers last weekend.
Wiese’s six-game ban, which had no mitigating circumstances, means that he will miss the first six tests of the international season and adds his name to a growing list of players that are either in doubt or unavailable for the upcoming international season.
Wiese will miss the opening test against Wales at Twickenham, both tests against Ireland and the one-off against Portugal, as well as two tests against Australia in the Rugby Championship in August.
The decision is a massive blow as Wiese was the natural successor to Vermeulen, the latter who announced his retirement after the World Cup and joined the Springbok management team.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Damian Willemse had torn hand ligaments and would be out for four months, while it is a virtual certainty that Steven Kitshoff will also miss the start of the international season with a knee injury.
In addition to this, Deon Fourie and Malcolm Marx, both who were used at hooker in the Rugby World Cup, are also out with injury, with no certainty as to when they will be ready to play again.
Also out with injury is loose forward Kwagga Smith while the Sharks reported injuries to Jaden Hendrikse and Lukhanyo Am this past week. Hendrikse has a shoulder and Am a rib injury that has ruled them out of the EPCR Challenge Cup final.
What makes it more challenging for Erasmus is the fact that the Wales test is outside the international test window and also coincides with the final day of the season, where the URC and other finals will be played.
That means any team making the final will not release their players and the European and Japanese clubs are not under obligation to do so either.
The Bulls and Stormers both have qualified for the top eight of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship while the Lions have an outside chance with one week to go.
The disciplinary gave little leeway to Wiese, and the harsh sentence was one that was to send a message, even though Wiese still won man of the match in his final performance and on Thursday was named in the Premiership’s team of the season.
“The case of Jasper Wiese, Leicester Tigers, was heard by an independent disciplinary panel chaired by Jeremy Summers sitting with Martyn Wood and Olly Kohn,” the statement from the English Rugby Football Union read.
“He was shown a red card for lifting another player off the ground and dropping or driving that player so that their head and/or upper body makes contact with the ground, contrary to World Rugby Law 9.18, during a game against Exeter Chiefs on 18 May 2024.
“The player admitted the charge and received a six-match ban.
“Wiese will miss the following games:
22.06 South Africa v Wales (Twickenham) *
06.07 South Africa v Ireland (Pretoria)
13.07 South Africa v Ireland (Durban)
20.07 South Africa v Portugal (Bloemfontein) +
10.08 Australia v South Africa
17.08 Australia v South Africa
* subject to confirmation that the player is no longer bound by World Rugby Regulation 9 and so able to play this fixture.
+ subject to the SARU confirming after 13 July 2024 that the player is required to play against Portugal.