CJ Stander returned to his native land to represent his adopted country for the first time this afternoon.
Ireland led South Africa 10-3 in Cape Town when Munster's player of the year was given a straight red card in what - at first, second and third glance - seemed like an extremely harsh decision by French referee Mathieu Raynal.
As South Africa fly-half Pat Lambie cleared from the edge of his own 22, his former compatriot and u20s teammate attempted to charge down the ball. Stander, however, leapt to such heights that his hip collided with Lambie's face, rendering the Springbok totally unconscious in what was undoubtedly a violent if unintentional clash.
Having seen the slow motion replays and asked to watch the incident once more in real time, Raynal argued that Stander was in no position to attempt a charge down and sent him for an early bath.
The South African fans cheered the red card before raucously jeering one of their former sons, who seemed entirely bemused by the decision.
Prior to kick-off, the Munster back row looked relaxed as he belted out 'Ireland's Call' with the rest of his teammates, in what might have been replayed as an iconic moment in his career had his evening not ended prematurely.
Instead, his first appearance back in his country of birth will be remembered for an unceremonious dismissal.
Was Raynal correct in sending Stander off? Clearly, it transpired to be a dangerous challenge, but it surely couldn't be argued that it was intentional. Let us know your thoughts.
