South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick maintains that the reigning champions have faced biased treatment following sending-off occurrences during their victories against the French team and Italy.
Disciplinary Actions Provoke Controversy
Lood de Jager received a four-game suspension after receiving a red card for a dangerous tackle on French back player Thomas Ramos in the French capital, while Mostert received a immediate dismissal for a shoulder-to-head challenge on Italy's Paolo Garbisi in the Italian city.
Mostert faces a World Rugby disciplinary hearing in the coming days, with Stick stating that the title holders have appealed against De Jager's ban.
"Every week we are having players suspended and it's unfortunate," Stick told reporters in the Irish capital before South Africa's Test against Ireland on the weekend.
Growing Concerns About Equitable Officiating
He stated: "I prefer not to say things and then end up also being banned like Rassie [Erasmus, head coach] in the previous instances.
"We've never talked bad about opposing sides. We consistently try and compete in a good spirit, and ideally things can just be on the field. Are we treated justly? I don't think so."
Stick also pointed to recently imposed bans for South Africa internationals Makazole Mapimpi and Jan-Hendrik Wessels while playing for Sharks and Bulls in the United Rugby Championship.
- Winger Mapimpi received a five-match suspension for a illegal challenge on the Irish province's Michael Lowry on October 18th
- Front-rower Wessels is serving an eight-match ban - decreased from nine games - for an reported genital grab on Connacht's Josh Murphy
Pattern of Suspensions Raises Questions
"When examining at the recent four red cards with our players - we had Makazole Mapimpi banned, who is not with the squad at the moment," stated Stick.
"The guy is on 47 international appearances, missed out on a international trip to reach to the 50th. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, a young player, also was excluded. Suspended.
"Lood de Jager, which I feel after the recent match and everything that I've observed, even the Fijian team and the French game, the ruck clearances that were there, the Irish game against the Wallabies, incidents that were even more serious than what those guys have been banned for.
"Yet for them they're banned, but other players will return and play this week. Certainly in some way, this situation is unjust.
"In my view we deserve this as a squad. We're making every effort in our powers to ensure that we send the appropriate signal when it comes to how we play the game."
Physical Nature of the Sport
Mostert was dismissed in the early stages against Italy, a contest the Springboks emerged victorious 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 book," added assistant coach Stick.
"His sole error was just perhaps the contact was in this area [chest] but it ended up in the head. It's unclear how does that become permanent red card.
"In our view as coaches, we still have to work hard because we're coaching these players. We can see that they're nice and tall. They try to follow all instructions by the book, but because the sport is a physical game, sometimes you don't get it perfect.
"When officials to say the tackle was 'never legal', it's frustrating."
Refereeing Decisions Being Questioned
Stick also asserted the majority of the rulings against the Italian side did not favor the Springboks.
"Approximately about twenty-one rulings that were meant to be called in the first half or probably the first 45 minutes, 20 of them were against us.
"Not because of the referee. Regrettably he has to respect the communications from his team off the field.
"Disappointed with it, but once again, I sympathize with the Italian team and I would like to express regret with how things turned out, because they've got a good coaching staff and then their players were also up for the game, but for other things to happen like that, I believe they merit what they've received in that contest."
