'It didn't look good - Rassie Erasmus on Eben Etzebeth's red card for gouging Wales star Alex Mann in record Cardiff win
By Rhys Jones
Published 30/11/2025 at 10:23 GMT
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South Africa's record 73-0 win over Wales was marred by a red card for Eben Etzebeth in the closing moments at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The Springbok lock was given a straight red by referee Luc Ramos after he appeared to eye gouge Wales flanker Alex Mann, and could now face a lengthy ban according to World Rugby's sanctioning guidelines.
'This could be a straight red' - Etzebeth is dismissed after violent conduct
Video credit: TNT Sports
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has addressed Eben Etzebeth's eye gouge on Wales' Alex Mann during Saturday's Quilter Nations Series clash.
The Springboks lock could face a lengthy ban for his action in the closing moments of a 73-0 win over Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
South Africa's victory had been assured long before Etzebeth's act, but his red card marred a record win in the Welsh capital.
The pair clashed during a scuffle and Etzebeth appeared to push his thumb into Mann's eye, which the Welsh flanker brought to the attention of referee Luc Ramos.
After Ramos and television match official Eric Gauzins reviewed the footage, the French referee had no hesitation in producing a straight red card.
"I don't know what I can say that won't be controversial. It didn't look good and it was a justified red card," Erasmus said after the game.
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Etzebeth's sending off was the third straight red shown to a South African during November. Lood de Jager was sent off during the win over France, and Franco Mostert dismissed against Italy, but saw his red card later rescinded by a disciplinary committee.
"How it happened and why it happened, and if he was provoked, I am not sure, but it's definitely not the way that we would have liked to end the game," added Erasmus. "I don't think that the optics were great."
The 34-year-old, who was playing his record-extending 141st cap for the Springboks, is now in line to face a lengthy ban.
He had only been introduced in the 52nd minute, when Erasmus emptied his bench and brought on all eight of his replacements at once. Etzebeth scored the final try of the game shortly before his sending off.
How many games could Etzebeth miss after red card?
World Rugby's sanctioning guidelines state that "the low-end entry point for intentional contact with the eye" is 12 weeks, with a midpoint of 18 weeks and a top-end sanction of upwards of 24 weeks.
The maximum ban available is 208 weeks, or four years, but that outcome is unlikely.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi defended his fellow forward after the game, saying he was sure that Etzebeth did not intend to gouge Mann's eye.
"I am sure he did not mean to do that on purpose, if you go for an eye gouge, you know what happens after that," Kolisi told TNT Sports.
"He has said sorry to the guy already, but I don’t want that to be the highlight of the day."
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Mann and Etzebeth had a brief but frosty exchange after the final whistle too, sharing an unconvincing handshake before the Welshman said something to the South African, who turned around and responded to Mann.
"It wasn't the warmest of handshakes and there were a few words afterwards as well," Nick Mullins said on commentary for TNT Sports.
"I think you would understand Alex Mann's fury and it was clear for us all to see there, that late Etzebeth red card, that blot on the South African landscape."
Etzebeth plays for United Rugby Championship side Sharks, who begin their Champions Cup campaign against Toulouse next Sunday.
South Africa are not set to play until the opening weekend of the new Nations Championship next July, when they face England in in Johannesburg.
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