South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth faces potential disciplinary action after eye gouging incident
Eben Etzebeth is confronted with the possibility of one of the most severe disciplinary sanctions of his career following a clear act of eye gouging against Wales flanker Alex Mann, which disrupted South Africa’s 73–0 victory in Cardiff, reports BritPanorama.
The incident occurred in the 79th minute at Principality Stadium when a confrontation escalated amid a chaotic sequence of play. As the forward packs clashed, Etzebeth was seen intentionally pushing his thumb into Mann’s eye area, an action that was wholly disconnected from the momentum of the ongoing scuffle and resulted in an immediate backlash from Welsh players in the vicinity.
Reacting swiftly, referee Mathieu Raynal issued a straight red card, underscoring the severity of the foul. This incident is particularly striking given Etzebeth’s stature as South Africa’s most-capped player and a celebrated two-time World Cup winner. Instead of receiving commendation for his leadership role from the bench, he now faces a disciplinary process that could lead to a lengthy absence from international play.
Under World Rugby’s sanctioning guidelines, the minimum penalty for such deliberate contact with the eye is 12 weeks. The potential ramifications are significant: a reckless act incurs a starting point of 18 weeks, while intentional eye gouging can see penalties reach up to four years. The determination of Etzebeth’s fate will rely on how the disciplinary panel interprets his actions during the clash.
South Africa’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, acknowledged the seriousness of the incident, stating, “It didn’t look good. It was a justified red card. It’s definitely not the way we’d have liked to have ended the game. The optics weren’t great.” His remarks contrast sharply with the usual accolades afforded to a player of Etzebeth’s calibre.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi offered a partial defence, suggesting a lack of intent. “I’m sure he didn’t mean to do that,” Kolisi remarked, emphasizing that if a player chooses to gouge, they are aware of the consequences. This interpretation of intent—whether accidental or deliberate—will be central to the forthcoming disciplinary hearing.
Wales head coach Steve Tandy declined to elaborate significantly, simply suggesting the incident spoke volumes. “You can see something. If it is what it is, it’s not a great look,” he noted. Until that moment of indiscretion, South Africa had showcased a dominant performance, with 11 tries leading to a historic margin of victory.
Yet, in the aftermath, discussions are poised to focus more on Etzebeth’s actions and their implications for his reputation than the extraordinary feat on the scoreboard. It serves, once again, as a reminder of the fine line between aggressive play and foul misconduct in rugby — a line that Etzebeth has now tested, with his career hanging precariously in the balance.
