Scott Cummings handed one-week ban after South Africa red card

Cummings was initially shown a yellow card in the 11th minute for a dangerous clear-out by referee Christophe Ridley, with the sanction upgraded to a 20-minute red card after an off-field review. 

Now an independent disciplinary committee has handed the 27-year-old a one-week ban, meaning he will sit out Saturday's match with Portugal. 

Scott Cummings leaves the field after initially being shown a yellow card (Image: SNS)

Given Scotland are expected to make wholesale changes anyway, it seemed unlikely Cummings would feature anyway.

The judgement reads: "Having accepted that the act of foul play justified the red card and by applying World Rugby's sanctioning, provisions, the disciplinary committee determined that whilst reckless, the low-range entry point of two weeks was appropriate with the full 50% mitigation applied based on an exemplary disciplinary record, good conduct and having shown remorse, reducing the sanction to one week."

Scotland have plenty of options left in the second row department despite Cummings' ban, with Edinburgh's Grant Gilchrist the senior statesman, while Ewan Johnson, Alex Craig and the uncapped Alex Samuel seem likely to get opportunities this weekend.