Springboks lock Franco Mostert cost his Japanese club Honda Heat dearly this weekend after he was red-carded for a nasty croc roll.
The double Rugby World Cup winner had his yellow card upgraded to a red after his actions in the 69th minute of the defeat to the bottom-of-the-table Urayasu D-Rocks.
Mostert’s red card
In a closely fought Japan Rugby League One encounter, Honda looked to have found a try that would seal their fifth win of the season when back-rower Ryota Kobayashi raced over to score his side’s fourth try.
However, his five-pointer was quickly chalked off when the officiating team reviewed Mostert’s actions at a ruck a few phases prior, with the Springboks lock croc rolling D-Rock’s centre Shane Gates.
He was subsequently yellow-carded before the Foul Play Review Officer deemed that his actions warranted a red card.
That proved to be a pivotal point in the final quarter of the match as Urayasu back-rower Hendrick Tui scored three minutes before full-time to recapture the lead before Soma Matsumoto grabbed his second try of the game to seal a 31-39 victory for the Greig Laidlaw-led team.
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It was an unfortunate finish to the match for Mostert who had played his part in putting his team in a strong position to win the match.
He had crossed the whitewash after Los Pumas star and teammate Pablo Matera in the first half, the two tries in reply to the opening score by Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi.
Gates scored in the 30th minute to get the D-Rocks back within touching distance with Kota Wu replying for the hosts. Otere Black’s penalty would give the D-Rocks a 21-24 lead at the break.
Ren Iinuma’s try early in the second half extended that advantage before Lomano Lemeki’s brace put Honda in a strong position to see out the win before Mostert’s actions.
Honda remain outside the relegation zone
The result means that Honda are just outside the relegation-promotion zone having won just four of their opening 12 games of the season, which leaves them ranked 10th overall.
They hold a three-point lead over 11th-placed Toyota Verblitz with the D-Rocks propping up the table a further two points behind.
Honda face a tough task next week with a meeting with table-toppers and defending champions Toshiba Brave Lupus who have Richie Mo’unga pulling the strings at fly-half.
Meanwhile, the D-Rocks face the second-placed Wild Knights who fell to their first defeat of the season to the Kwagga Smith-led Blue Revs.
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/springboks-red-card-for-nasty-croc-roll-costs-relegation-threatened-club-dearly-against-samu-kerevis-team
