Online Reporter
Wallabies lock Miles Amatosero has been suspended for three matches for dangerous play during Australia’s 35-32 win over Japan in Osaka last weekend.
The forward was shown a red card for high contact in a ruck in the 33rd minute of the match at Hanazono Rugby Stadium and will miss this weekend’s return clash in Townsville.
Amatosero will also miss a Shute Shield match for his club Gordon but could be available for Australia’s clash against Argentina in San Salvador later this month if he attends a coaching intervention programme.
The 24-year-old’s selection as a starter for the match was considered a bit of a risk for new Wallabies coach Les Kiss given the lock has a reputation for being volatile on occasion.
“I don’t think that was an emotional decision,” Kiss told reporters after the match.
“He went to go for it, (the other player) was going down and maybe he could have controlled it a bit more. But look he’s upset in there.”
Kiss will name his team for Saturday’s match tomorrow. Meanwhile, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up veteran utility forward Deon Fourie to the national squad for the forthcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, presented by Castle Double Malt, following his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury.
The 39-year-old Fourie, who doubles up as a loose forward and hooker, joined up with the squad in Johannesburg yesterday morning.
His last Test for the Springboks was the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris, and he made a welcome return to top-class rugby in the DHL Stormers’ clash in their RGR opener against the All Blacks on Friday night.
The Rugby World Cup-winner will add invaluable experience to Erasmus’ quality list of forwards for the historic series, which kicks off at 10bet Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 22 August.
The match will mark the first of four Tests between the teams in the inaugural series, which will also see the teams meet at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town (29 August), the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg (5 September), and the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore (12 September). – Reuters
