Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth got a red card in the 79th minute for eye gouging during South Africa’s 73-0 win over Wales. The incident happened after he scored the final try of the game and earned his 141st cap for his country. The red card completely took attention away from South Africa’s dominant performance in Cardiff.
The incident happened during a late fight when the 34-year-old made contact with Wales flanker Alex Mann’s left eye using his thumb. Referee Luc Ramos quickly sent Etzebeth off the field. South Africa scored 11 tries in the match and strengthened their position as the number one team in the world.
According to BBC, South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus admitted the red card was totally fair right after the match. He said the incident didn’t look good and that he wasn’t sure what made the veteran player do it. Erasmus didn’t try to defend Etzebeth’s actions.
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The punishment could be extremely harsh
This is terrible news for Etzebeth and his club team, the Sharks. World Rugby laws say that bans for eye gouging start at 12 weeks for low-end fouls. But bans for reckless contact can go from six to 208 weeks, and if the act is seen as intentional, it could reach up to 208 weeks.
Etzebeth will likely face a long suspension that could end his season. The timing is awful for the Sharks, who start their Champions Cup campaign against Toulouse on Sunday, December 7. They also have a home game against Saracens and important South African derbies during the festive period. This kind of player mocking an opponent’s condition shows how quickly sports moments can turn controversial.
South Africa’s performance was clinical despite the controversy. They completely dominated Wales from start to finish. Erasmus called it a “controlled performance” and praised his team’s effort, saying they put their soul into the game.
The Springboks finish the year with back-to-back Rugby Championship titles. Meanwhile, Wales has now lost 21 of their last 23 Test matches, with three heavy defeats this autumn under coach Steve Tandy. While rugby had its share of drama this weekend, fans also witnessed a dad’s incredible one-handed catch that went viral for better reasons.
Erasmus tried to encourage Wales after the match. He said fortunes can change quickly in rugby, pointing out that South Africa was ranked sixth in 2016 but won the World Cup in 2019. He told Wales to get one or two wins and things will turn around.
Published: Dec 1, 2025 01:45 am