Springbok hooker Dale Santon’s international career is now in the balance after he was dispatched from the Bulls Super 12 squad.
Santon, who was part of last year’s World Cup squad, received his second yellow card in as many games against the Sharks on Saturday and while the team management has given no official reason for his absence, it can be assumed that discipline is the main reason he has been released.
His place will be taken by Danie Coetzee, also a World Cup Springbok, who has recovered from a shoulder injury and came through a practice match for the Blue Bulls on Saturday unscathed.
Coetzee is likely to come off the bench behind in-form Gary Botha on Saturday night when the Bulls face the Hurricanes.
Bulls coach Rudy Joubert was fuming after his side’s 26-14 loss to the Stormers a fortnight ago in Dubai, as a yellow card to Santon for punching early on in the game cost 21 points and basically put the Pretoria side out of any chance they had of winning the match.
On Saturday, as the Bulls went down 23-18 to the Sharks, Santon was on the field for only four minutes before referee Jonathan Kaplan dispatched him for trampling.
It came at a crucial time in the match, when the Bulls looked to be surging towards a victory. They lost the game 23-18. — Sapa