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South Africa coaching staff member Mzwandile Stick contends that the reigning champions have faced inequitable treatment following sending-off episodes during their wins against France and Italy.

Suspension Decisions Generate Controversy

Lood de Jager was handed a four-game suspension after being sent off for a high tackle on France full-back Thomas Ramos in Paris, while Mostert received a immediate dismissal for a high contact on Italy's Paolo Garbisi in the Italian city.

Mostert faces a international rugby governing body disciplinary hearing in the coming days, with Stick revealing that the world champions have appealed against De Jager's suspension.

"Week after week we are having players suspended and it's unfortunate," Stick informed reporters in the Irish capital before the Springboks' Test against the Irish team on Saturday.

Increasing Worries About Equitable Officiating

He continued: "I prefer not to make statements and then wind up also facing suspension like Rassie [Erasmus, head coach] in the past.

"We've never spoken negatively about other teams. We consistently try and play in a positive manner, and hopefully things can just be on the field. Are we treated justly? In my opinion so."

Stick also pointed to recently imposed bans for Springbok internationals Makazole Mapimpi and Jan-Hendrik Wessels while representing their club teams in the domestic competition.

• Outside back Mapimpi was given a five-week ban for a illegal challenge on Ulster's Michael Lowry on 18 October
• Forward Wessels is serving an eight-match ban - decreased from nine games - for an reported genital grab on the provincial team's Josh Murphy

Pattern of Suspensions Raises Questions

"If you look at the recent four red cards with our players - we had Makazole Mapimpi suspended, who is not on tour at the moment," said Stick.

"The guy is on 47 international appearances, was unable on a tour to reach to the fiftieth cap. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, a young player, also missed out. Banned.

"Lood de Jager, which I feel after this weekend and all that I've seen, even the Fiji and the France game, the clean-outs that were there, the Irish game against Australia, incidents that were even more serious than what these players have been banned for.

"Then for them they're suspended, but other players will come back and participate in upcoming matches. Surely in some way, this situation is unjust.

"I don't think we merit this as a squad. We're doing everything in our powers to make sure that we send the appropriate signal when it comes to how we approach the sport."

Physical Nature of the Sport

Mostert was sent off in the 12th minute against the Italian team, a contest South Africa won 32-14.

"If you look at the conduct of Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager the prior match, he has followed all protocols by the rules," commented assistant coach Stick.

"His only error was just perhaps the contact was here [chest] but it ended up in the head area. It's unclear how does that become permanent red card.

"In our view as technical staff, we must continue to work hard because we're working with these players. We can see that they're physically imposing. They attempt to do everything by the rules, but because the sport is a contact sport, sometimes you cannot execute flawlessly.

"For them to declare the tackle was 'never legal', it's disappointing."

Match Officiating Being Questioned

Stick also claimed the majority of the decisions against Italy did not favor the Springboks.

"Approximately about 21 decisions that were meant to be called in the first half or perhaps the first 45 minutes, twenty decisions were against us.

"Not due of the ref. Regrettably he has to follow the communications from his support staff off the field.

"Disappointed with it, but nevertheless, I feel for Italy and I want to apologise with how things turned out, because they've got a good coaching staff and then their players were also prepared for the game, but for other things to occur like that, I believe they merit what they've got in that contest."