THE FUSE

Quilter Nations Series - Ireland v South Africa

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 22 November Kick-off: 17:40 GMT

Coverage: Listen on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Ulster; live text updates on BBC Sport website and app

South Africa second row Franco Mostert will be free to face Ireland on Saturday after his permanent red card for a high hit was rescinded.

The 34-year-old was dismissed after 11 minutes of the Springboks' 32-14 win over Italy last weekend, with referee James Doleman judging that there had been a high degree of danger in Mostert's tackle on fly-half Paolo Garbisi and a straight shoulder, with no attempt to "wrap" his arms, meant no mitigation could be applied to the incident.

However, a three-person disciplinary committee determined that, although Mostert had made contact with Garbisi's head, he initially hit lower down.

"[Head contact] was found to be secondary to the initial shoulder contact and made with much lower force and without the requisite level of 'danger' required under World Rugby's Head Contact Process to make the offending reach the red card threshold," the committee wrote after reviewing replays and evidence from Mostert.

South Africa are already missing Mostert's fellow second row Lood de Jager for the meeting with Ireland after De Jager was sent off for a similar incident in the Springboks' win over France a fortnight ago and banned for the rest of the autumn internationals.

South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick claimed on Monday that his side were being treated unfairly by officials. He also referenced bans given to Makazole Mapimpi and Jan-Hendrik Wessels for incidents on club duty that have kept them out of South Africa's northern hemisphere tour.

Even without De Jager, South Africa are well stocked at second row.

Jean Kleyn, who made five appearances for Ireland in 2019 after qualifying for them through residency and then reverted back to his home country after a stand-down period, started against Italy, with Leinster's RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje on the bench.

Eben Etzebeth, a talisman in South Africa's World Cup wins of 2019 and 2023, was rested for the fixture.