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South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth was sent off for an eye gouge as the veteran’s ugly act marred a record Springboks win against Wales in Cardiff.
A 73-0 defeat was the hosts’ heaviest in history on home soil, with the world champions in impressive form in running in 11 tries against an under-strength Wales unable to pick their foreign-based players.
But another one-sided victory for Rassie Erasmus’s men was spoiled at the last after Etzebeth appeared to direct a thumb into the eye of Alex Mann, the Wales flanker.
The pair came together as a scuffle sparked just a couple of minutes from time with South Africa long since secure of victory.
After reviewing the footage in consultation with television match official Eric Gauzins, referee Luc Ramos produced a permanent red card, deeming that Etzebeth’s act had been intentional.
Under World Rugby’s sanctioning guidelines, Etzebeth now faces a long ban. The low-end entry point for “intentional contact with the eye” is 12 weeks, with a top-end sanction of upwards of 24 weeks. The maximum ban a player can receive is 208 weeks, or four years, although that is unlikely.
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Eben Etzebeth was shown a red card (AFP via Getty Images)
Etzebeth is the third South Africa lock shown a straight red card this November. Lood de Jager was dismissed in the win over France and subsequently given a four-match ban, reduced to three after completing “tackle school”, while Franco Mostert’s sending off was overturned by a disciplinary committee.
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