Props Andrea Lovotti and Nicola Quaglio will miss Italy's final Rugby World Cup Pool B game against New Zealand after both receiving three-match bans for a lifting tackle.
Lovotti was sent off for dropping Duane Vermeulen on his head in the 43rd minute of Friday's game against the Springboks while Quaglio was cited for his involvement in the same tackle as Italy went on to lose 49-3.
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"If Italy does not progress, the balance of the suspensions will be served in the players' upcoming PRO14 matches," the judicial committee said.
The news is bad for Italian coach Conor O'Shea, who is facing a front-row crisis.
During the match, Italy lost Simone Ferrari (hamstring) and replacement Marco Riccioni (concussion) inside 18 minutes, which led to uncontested scrums.
O'Shea will, therefore, have to call in replacements for the October 12 match against the All Blacks, with only Tiziano Pasquali and Federico Zani left in the squad.
Italy are currently third in Pool B behind New Zealand and South Africa and are unlikely to progress from the group stage.
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Reuters
