Question: Why was Johan Goosen sent off without the option of a warning first?
At the start of season, referees had meetings with the coaches at different levels (Super 15, Vodacom Cup, Varsity Cup, etc) . Here they communicated the key focus areas that will be given priority in their matches. One of these key priorities was the tackle. Great emphasis was put on the tackler that needs to release and roll away immediately.
In the case of the game between the Lions and Cheetahs this weekend, the Cheetahs had already infringed at numerous tackles, and a general warning had been given to Adrian Strauss, the captain.
Furthermore, the Lions had broken the defensive line of the Cheetahs and the tackler, Johan Goosen, realised that a quick ball for the Lions could mean a try, seven points. Therefore he made no effort to roll away, in the hope of slowing the ball down so that his team could re-organise their defensive structure. This is a cynical infringement or professional foul (rather concede the penalty than the try)
This means that there were two reasons for his yellow card.: (1) The general warning to the team for repeated infringements at the tackle and (2) for cynical infringement for slowing the ball down.
http://www.sareferees.co.za/news/ref_news/2851804.htm
So if another guy in the teams gets a warning it is a warning basically for the whole team. Does not matter if someone else was warned.