Lock Franco Mostert was shown a permanent red card after 11 minutes for what was deemed shoulder-to-head contact on Italian fly-half Pablo Garbisi, though evidence suggested he might have made contact with the shoulder instead.
It follows the red card for another second row, Lood de Jager, in the Springboks’ 32-17 win over France in Paris, and Erasmus insists his players simply cannot get any lower.
He was also unhappy about several other head shots in the game that were not called, including one on captain Siya Kolisi, though Italy did receive a yellow card for number eight Lorenzo Cannone for his upright tackle on Kwagga Smith.
“I am not saying it was the wrong call, but I saw a lot of shots in the game. The first tackle Siya Kolisi took was right against the head,” an exasperated Erasmus told reporters.
“I am not saying anybody was wrong, I just thought the balance in calling the head shots was not equal. But when we review the game, we might come to a different conclusion.
“Losing two locks in two games for not going lower than they can is tough to understand. We don’t know how to coach guys to go lower than they did. We are in a fix for a 2.06-metre guy (De Jager) to go lower than a guy on his knee.
“We are a proud team in the way we do level changes and try to avoid head contact. We are really trying hard.
“It is tough on individuals, like flanker Ben-Jason Dixon getting his first chance in a long time and having to be subbed after 11 minutes. I am sad for him and others. They have to take the hit for what someone else did by accident.”
Erasmus revealed that several players not involved in the match-day 23 stormed the dressing room at halftime to offer advice on plans to beat the Italians.
“Everybody we had, Eben (Etzebeth), Pieter-Steph (du Toit), was in there making plans on how to win the game,” he said.
The Springboks are next in action on Saturday against Ireland in Dublin.