‘I can’t agree with that’ – Springboks great Schalk Burger hits out at Lood de Jager’s full red card against France
Lood de Jager's tackle on Thomas Ramos and an inset of Angus Gardner issuing the red card.
Former Springboks flanker Schalk Burger has been left confused by Lood de Jager’s red card against France at the Stade de France.
De Jager was shown a straight, permanent red card for his dangerous tackle on Thomas Ramos in the 38th minute of the first meeting between France and South Africa since the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
France had raced into a 7-0 lead courtesy of a Damian Penaud try in the third minute, and while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu chipped away at the lead with two penalties, Penaud extended Les Bleus’ advantage with a second try.
Burger slams Lood de Jager’s red card
Cobus Reinach scored a stunning solo try to make it a one-point game in the final stages of the first half before the incident occurred.
It was the Bok scrum-half who initially made the tackle on Ramos, and as the French full-back began to fall to the ground, De Jager clattered into him, making shoulder-to-head contact with the outside back.
Referee Angus Gardner reviewed the decision with his assistants and TMO Ian Tempest, with the Australian official deeming that the tackle was always dangerous and illegal.
Because of this, he deemed that it did not need to be reviewed by the Foul Play Review Officer for a potential 20-minute red card and instead issued a full, permanent red card, meaning South Africa would play the rest of the game with 14 men.
Burger questioned Gardner’s call to issue a full red card as he believed that there was enough mitigation, as De Jager was incredibly low when making the tackle, and Ramos was also falling.
Lood de Jager received a permanent red card 🟥 for this.
Your thoughts on the decision? #FRAvRSA #QuilterNS #Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #XVdeFrancepic.twitter.com/zmJ6ejUlvl
— Sin Bin Rugby. (@sin_bin_rugby) November 8, 2025
“It’s just a rugby incident,” he said on SuperSport’s half-time coverage.
“Look, his knee is touching the ground, the straight, permanent red is where I get confused. It is a ‘high level of danger’, but not dangerous enough to send Ramos for a HIA, which Siya Kolisi correctly said to Angus Gardner, ‘Why isn’t he going off for an HIA?’
“And what got him was the tucked left shoulder. Ramos is down, and you’ve got to feel for Lood. You look at it in real time, that tackle happens 90 times a weekend. And if you slow it down, it’s just that left shoulder where he tucked.
“Often, you tuck your left shoulder when there is already someone in the tackle; it’s a natural instinct. You don’t put it out. Straight red? I can’t agree with that.”
The red card to De Jager forced Rassie Erasmus’ hand at half-time as he decided to remove Siya Kolisi from the action in order to get lineout operator Ruan Nortje on the pitch.
It effectively brought the Springboks skipper’s 100 Test match appearance to a swift end.
READ MORE: Why the Springboks are in white jerseys against France and could be for the rest of 2025
