Springboks Face Potential Blow as Jasper Wiese Faces Suspension Ahead of Ireland Series
The South African rugby union team, the Springboks, could be without their star number eight Jasper Wiese for the upcoming two-Test series against Ireland in July. Wiese, who plays his club rugby for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership, was red-carded in his final game for the English side, putting his international availability in jeopardy.
The powerful Springbok forward was shown a red card in the 68th minute of Leicester’s match against Exeter Chiefs after referee Karl Dickson deemed Wiese’s tackle on opposing player Ross Vincent to be dangerous. Replays revealed Wiese lifting and driving the back-rower into the ground at a ruck, leading to the dismissal.
This controversial incident could result in Wiese facing a suspension, potentially ruling him out of the Springboks’ clashes with Ireland.
The 28-year-old, who was a key member of South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, now awaits the outcome of his disciplinary hearing, which will determine the length of any potential ban.
Wiese was not initially selected for the Springboks’ fixture against Wales at Twickenham prior to the Ireland series, so that match is unlikely to factor into his suspension. With Leicester Tigers having missed out on the Premiership semi-finals, there are no scheduled club matches that could be used to fulfill a suspension.
The Springboks’ loose forward depth will be tested should Wiese be unavailable, with the likes of Stormers standout Evan Roos and the Bulls’ Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom waiting in the wings to stake their claim. Kwagga Smith, who has also featured for the national team, will also be in contention after recovering from injury.
Despite the red card, Leicester Tigers ended their disappointing domestic campaign on a high, clinching a 40-22 victory over Exeter Chiefs. Wiese, who was named the Tigers’ Players’ Player of the Season, produced 79 appearances for the club, including a memorable Man of the Match performance in the 2022 Premiership final.
The potential absence of Wiese for the Ireland series would be a significant blow for the Springboks, who are seeking to continue their dominance over the Irish. Rugby union enthusiasts will be closely monitoring the disciplinary process and eagerly awaiting the outcome as the highly anticipated fixtures draw near.
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