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Former Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth faces months on the sidelines after being sent off for eye-gouging a Wales player during a record win in Cardiff on Sunday morning.
Etzebeth, who holds the record for most Springbok caps, was marched in the 79th minute after a scuffle was reviewed by the Television Match Official, and vision clearly showed the lock’s thumb in the left eye of Wales flanker Alex Mann. The 34-year-old had come on as a replacement in South Africa’s 73-0 victory.
Referee Luc Ramos had little hesitation in showing Etzebeth a permanent red card for foul play.
The Springbok forward, who holds the national record with 141 Test caps, came back on the field after the game and tried to shake Mann’s hand, but the fuming Wales hooker instead shared words with Etzebeth.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus even conceded post-game it was a legitimate send-off.
“I don’t want to be controversial but no, it didn’t look good,” he said. “It justified the red card. How it happened and why it happened, whether it was provoked, I’m not sure. But the optics weren’t great. That’s definitely not the way we would have liked to end the game.”
Eben Etzebeth of South Africa leaves the field after being shown a red card.Credit: Getty Images
Etzebeth will now face a hefty suspension. The entry point for deliberate eye contact is a ban of 12 weeks and can be as long as four years.
But the length of suspension given to Etzebeth will hinge on whether the eye contact was made accidentally, recklessly or intentionally. Those three categories carry their own minimum entry points, with 12, 18 and 24 weeks respectively.
Etzebeth had never been red-carded before, despite having his standing as one of the toughest enforcers in world rugby. The 203cm, 120kg lock has often been involved in scuffles and is known for his aggression.
He was cleared of eye gouging Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw in 2012 but was suspended for headbutting Nathan Sharpe in the same year.
Eben Etzebeth scuffles with Allan Alaalatoa in 2022.Credit: AP
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi defended Etzebeth, who has a reputation as an enforcer but had never been red-carded before.
“I’m sure he didn’t mean to do that on purpose,” Kolisi said. “You go for an eye gouge, you know what happens after that [long sanctions].
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“He said ‘sorry’ to the guy already, but I don’t want that to be the highlight of the day. It’s been a good day.”
Etzebeth’s permanent red card was the third incurred by South Africa in the last five weeks.
World No.1 South Africa scored 11 tries and held Wales scoreless at home for the first time in 33 years.
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