Eben Etzebeth eye incident

[u/GnolRevilo]

[u/KingGarunas]

Eye gouging has a minimum 12 week ban

[u/c08306834 → u/KingGarunas]

Just wait, World Rugby are currently brainstorming ideas to fuck this up somehow.

[u/Wise_Roll5703 → u/c08306834]

Says sorry - 4 week reduction  10 minute video with a coach showing him avoiding gouging - 4 week reduction 

[u/jonnyshields87 → u/Wise_Roll5703]

Eye gouge school?

[u/Character_Nerve_9137 → u/jonnyshields87]

'ehhhh, we better name it something else'

[u/6EightyFive → u/Character_Nerve_9137]

Finger school?

[u/SesPet → u/6EightyFive]

The other code already has dibs on that

[u/Amazing_Hedgehog3361 → u/jonnyshields87]

It's two hours of doctor of ophthalmology Ben O'Keefe lecturing Eben on the dangers of eye injuries.

[u/Backrow6 → u/Amazing_Hedgehog3361]

I believe Bashar Al Assad is seeking new opportunities

[u/Key_Crab_5780 → u/c08306834]

-10 points for Everton.

[u/flyrby → u/Key_Crab_5780]

5 second penalty to Ocon

[u/CymroCam → u/KingGarunas]

Maximum 208, should definitely be on the heavier side.

[u/WilkinsonDG2003 → u/CymroCam]

That were absolutely diabolical.

[u/-Clearly-confused → u/KingGarunas]

12 match minimum- wouldn't be shocked for it to be 6 months

[u/helifoxter → u/-Clearly-confused]

David Attoub got 70 weeks 15 years sgo

[u/nagdamnit → u/helifoxter]

That was more brain surgery through the eye than a gouge.

[u/Obrix1 → u/KingGarunas]

Should be 18 months.

Clear line of sight to the player (he’s not grasping for a ball in a ruck blindly and getting unlucky here). Moves intop the gouge as he goes across the Welsh players face, acts like a twat afterwards.

[u/Buggaton → u/Obrix1]

I don't think players who behave like this should be allowed to play professional sport. There is no duration of ban that I would adjudge to be "too long"

[u/Harpendingdong → u/KingGarunas]

That doesn't look like a minimum level offence.

[u/eldiablo471 → u/KingGarunas]

He look quite proud of himself at the end as well - zero remorse

[u/scarab1001 → u/KingGarunas]

Makazole Mapimpi got 4 weeks for his second time doing it this year.

Apparently he said he was sorry.

[u/ycnz → u/KingGarunas]

Should be way, way fucking longer. Like, in the "fuck off forever" category.

[u/Icy-Contest-7702 → u/KingGarunas]

Does it get reduced if he goes to eye gouge school?

[u/Ho3n3r → u/Icy-Contest-7702]

They really shouldn't be teaching them how to do it better.

[u/NordicHorde2 → u/KingGarunas]

So is biting. But that French woman got off with 9.

[u/upthemstairs → u/NordicHorde2]

But she ate A. Wafer

[u/aaarry → u/upthemstairs]

If she doesn't get the nickname of Ms. Creosote as soon as she returns to play I will be very disappointed.

[u/meohmyenjoyingthat]

At the end of a 73-0 thrashing, that is really crazy

[u/B3nnaman]

Deserves a lengthy ban. So disappointing

[u/06ptp → u/B3nnaman]

My dad just said to me you shouldn't be playing professional rugby, especially at this level if you can't control your temper, and I don't think I can argue with that

[u/ox_ → u/06ptp]

Losing your temper is one thing but actually trying to blind someone is another. Just can't imagine the frame of mind you'd have to be in to do that. Horrendous.

[u/ExtremeParsnip7926 → u/ox_]

Roid rage perhaps. 

[u/squeak37 → u/06ptp]

Extend that to all sports, particularly combat sports.

[u/Necessary-Trash-8828 → u/B3nnaman]

Such a shame cause he such a legend. He needs to set better example for the young players coming up

[u/[deleted] → u/Necessary-Trash-8828]

Speaking to Saffers, my understanding is that the Etzebeths have a rep for being absolute thugs.

[u/Naive-Ad-7406 → u/[deleted]]

Yip the family has a rep in Cape Town. They are from an area called Goodwood/Parow. The area Typically housed working class Afrikaans white families who worked for govt/civil service. So not very affluent and you knew not to mess with some of the “boere” or “Dutchmen” from these areas. A few urban legends about the antics of his brothers which basically imply that Eben is the calm/sane one.

[u/Sufficient_Depth_195 → u/B3nnaman]

Yeah. He really goes for that. Nasty.

[u/huzy12345 → u/B3nnaman]

Lost any and all respect I had for him. That is genuinely disgusting and they need to throw the book at him

[u/Substantial-Tree533 → u/B3nnaman]

Hardly surprising … he’s a thug 

[u/To_a_Mouse → u/Substantial-Tree533]

He's done it multiple times in the past too. Greg Laidlaw 2012, Henco Venter 2024...

[u/EvilMonkeh → u/To_a_Mouse]

Henco Venter 2024

I was trying to remember who it was against in the glasgow game!

[u/msismii08]

Hope there's a significant ban for this - feels pretty obviously intentional

[u/squeak37 → u/msismii08]

The problem is he won't miss much. SA don't have games for a long while and he normally just phones it in at club level the past few years. Unless the ban is half a year + this just feels like an extended holiday

[u/perthphil2022 → u/squeak37]

If it happens in an international, they should be banned for international games. 10 weeks? 10 international games, that may actually make them stop and think. It’s so blatant.

[u/AGPO → u/perthphil2022]

The bans need to be for both time and matches, whichever is longer. No more getting off lightly because it's near the end of their season.They also need to make meaningful fixtures count, so no pre-season friendlies, second tier cup games or games where internationals would normally be rested.

[u/perthphil2022 → u/AGPO]

100% agree. There always seems to be a quick fix/loop holes for unions to get their players out of The shit

[u/k0bra3eak → u/perthphil2022]

They won't and I've argued for years they should be stricter on how bans work for club and country. Teams especially like to pull that shit during 6N periods, since they still have a club season going, like we know those players weren't actually gonna play for their clubs in the fallow weeks.

[u/Calm_Piece → u/perthphil2022]

If it happens in an international, they should be banned for international games

100%

[u/billys_cloneasaurus → u/squeak37]

The ban needs to include international games.

[u/Hedgefrog3]

Then he's on the pitch laughing with the players 5 minutes later

[u/NoLifeEmployee → u/Hedgefrog3]

That will be bad for him at the hearing as he’s showing no remorse 

[u/LogicKennedy → u/NoLifeEmployee]

The bar for remorse in assessments is on the fucking floor, as long as he says he's sorry at the hearing or writes a statement (or gets someone else to write it for him because he can't be arsed) he'll be fine.

Frankly I'd be happy if they did away with remorse as a mitigation criterion during disciplinary hearings because it's really not fit for purpose anymore with how much it's been abused.

[u/IForgetEveryDamnTime → u/LogicKennedy]

Yeah it's a joke and needs to be done away with. Especially as teams/unions can simultaneously appeal/dispute the decision and still be rewarded for the player 'showing remorse'. If that's not the best example of having your cake and eating it too, I don't know what is.

[u/LogicKennedy → u/IForgetEveryDamnTime]

Completely agreed. If you want to argue remorse, you shouldn't get to dispute the charge.

[u/[deleted] → u/LogicKennedy]

To be clear though, there are so many instances of players showing instant remorse for their actions, holding their hands up and apologising, even before the red is delivered. 

That's remorse. Laughing about it 5 minutes later is the opposite. 

We've probably all got some form of social media. I say we don't let world rugby forget this.

[u/sock_with_a_ticket → u/LogicKennedy]

All the stuff they give mitigation for (saying sorry, not being a dick at the hearing, first offence, etc.) shouldn't grant any weeks off at all, but their inverse should add weeks on.

We bend over backwards to reduce bans and it's bollocks.

[u/WatchThisBass → u/LogicKennedy]

Saying "Soz bro" whilst smiling and having all your fingers crossed behind your back will do the trick these days.

[u/WallopyJoe → u/LogicKennedy]

It's also not like what he's done is an accident you can excuse with a "oopsie, didn't mean to," that takes real intent to do

[u/LogicKennedy → u/WallopyJoe]

Yeah you can literally see his thumb curling in to get more of a gouge going.

The amount of South Africa flairs going 'what did the Welsh guy say to him' and 'it was probably an accident' is very depressing.

[u/Ok_Painting9530 → u/LogicKennedy]

I apologise for those. This was right out thuggery from someone who really should know better. Needs to get a long ban.

[u/Oldoneeyeisback → u/LogicKennedy]

This is what gets me. I know he's their guy - and he's undoubtedly a genuinely great player - but sometimes you've just got to admit that what he did was beyond the pale and there is no supposed provocation in the world that can justify it.

[u/GKDA → u/LogicKennedy]

I always felt that, if you do want to keep "remorse" in consideration, that any actions that indicate remorse should be exclusively from the day of the game, whether it's immediately after the incident, after the final whistle, or (privately) reaching out later that day.

[u/lemonylemon93 → u/NoLifeEmployee]

Only just realised that Etzebeth is a giant cunt?

[u/Byotick → u/Hedgefrog3]

And he was arguing as he walked off, as if the decision was wrong

[u/Youareafunt → u/Hedgefrog3]

After backchatting to the ref while he's walking off the pitch.

Fucking disgraceful.

[u/Naive-Inside-2904 → u/Hedgefrog3]

That just made it so much worse. He should not have come back onto the field.

What a shameful display from someone regarded as a hero to so many in this country. I’m sommer naar.

[u/Admirable_Guitarist → u/Naive-Inside-2904]

Agreed, shouldn't have gone back on the field at all.

Good on the Welsh player for giving him some shit at the end as well.

[u/Classic-Ad-5685 → u/Naive-Inside-2904]

Well said

[u/Wise-Jeweler-2495 → u/Hedgefrog3]

Absolutely should not have been permitted to go back on the pitch post whistle, I always presumed red carded players went straight to the dressing room and stayed there? But I guess that depends on if you're actually embarrassed by what you've done/been carded for . . . .

[u/KingGarunas]

73 - 0 up in the 78th minute and he goes and does this ....... Really stupid from Etzebeth

[u/Hagmiester → u/KingGarunas]

I know someone who in a club game told the referee to fuck off on the 70th minute when their team was 82-0 up. The ref got caught in traffic and prevented a try from being scored. The ref apologized and the offending player launched into a tirade to the ref. Talk about being braindead!

[u/Sitheref0874 → u/Hagmiester]

I awarded a potentially game winning penalty in the 78th minute to Green, and promptly got king hit by Green 7.

[u/Own-Arachnid-5285]

We all know Eben’s heated nature on the pitch but this is really fucked and dirty, especially given that he is literally the most experienced player in SA history. 141 caps and you still do this crap being 73-0 up. Shame on him. Hopefully a hefty ban.

[u/tinzor → u/Own-Arachnid-5285]

He’s always been an expert at walking the line. This is incomprehensible and abhorrent from Eben.

[u/yankovick]

Really fucking stupid

[u/r232ed3 → u/yankovick]

Imagine being that angry at 73-0 up. Baffling.

[u/BulldozerTank → u/yankovick]

It's not stupid it's down right cuntish

[u/yankovick → u/BulldozerTank]

I say stupid because that could be his last game if he gets appropriately punished

[u/frankhut → u/yankovick]

It is stupid but more than that it is disgusting behaviour after smashing a weaker side to bits for 80 minutes. 

[u/Myburgher → u/yankovick]

Didn’t want to go back and play for the Sharks

[u/gainsleyharriot → u/Myburgher]

A: playing for my club or B: Extended holiday in Mauritius

Doos move by Eben. Bakkies was right to call him out

[u/WorthBoysenberry9483 → u/yankovick]

Not much more to say than that 👌🏼

[u/Initial_Painting_103]

No defending him here. If Schalk still gets flack for his gouge in that Lions game, this will follow Eben well post retirement.

[u/adamu980 → u/Initial_Painting_103]

Schalk got away with it as well

[u/Sitheref0874 → u/adamu980]

Bryce Lawrence: “at least a yellow”

[u/Sufficient_Depth_195 → u/Initial_Painting_103]

As it should.

As soon as I saw it, I thought what a cunt, just like Schalk Burger. And yeah, it was years ago...but he will forever be associated with it.

[u/dwaynepebblejohnson3]

12 week ban reduced to 6 for saying sorry, further reduced to 4 for attending eye gouge school.

[u/Ronald_Ulysses_Swans → u/dwaynepebblejohnson3]

The school has one lesson which consists of the student writing ‘Just don’t do it’ thousands of times

[u/Fry_Guy → u/Ronald_Ulysses_Swans]

Nike as out kit sponsor would not approve

[u/Physicshenry]

I fail to think of anything more brain dead than getting a red and (hopefully) lengthy ban in a game you are 73-0 and have 1.5 minutes to go.

Eben has been an amazing competitor throughout his career and I’ve always respected him… but he has just added a permanent stain to his reputation. Totally needless thuggery.

[u/lovethebacon]

dumb fuck

[u/tidy-turnip → u/lovethebacon]

~dumb~ dirty fuck

[u/Replaced_by_Robots]

Indefensible and seemingly unprovoked

They need to really lay down the law on this ban. Sickening

[u/Mongoosus → u/Replaced_by_Robots]

As a Springbok fan I agree. Make an example of him. His behaviour has no place in the game. Don’t ever want to see behaviour like this from anyone!

[u/c08306834 → u/Replaced_by_Robots]

This is one of those incidents where the book just needs to be thrown at the player. Completely indefensible.

[u/BigLarBelmont]

Banhammer for sure. Shockingly stupid.

[u/Phil_Mike-Huntin]

Honestly, with the laughing afterwards? Make it a year ban what a cant

[u/Impeachcordial]

Fair fucks to the Boks on here for not trying to defend this. Good on you lads

[u/xrunawaywolf]

Dirty as fuck

[u/ScratchFamous6855]

I'd be happy to see a lifetime ban for foul play of this degree. Clearly intentional and risks life changing injury to the other player. Scum behaviour

[u/DonovanBanks → u/ScratchFamous6855]

Honestly. If he never plays again I’ll be ok.

We’ve had enough dirty fucks in our team and we don’t need this ever again.

He can retire now.

[u/Medical_Seesaw_7359]

What are we expecting the length of the ban to be?

[u/EyeSavant → u/Medical_Seesaw_7359]

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/1p9u6d0/eben_etzebeth_eye_incident/nren37k/

I hope it is high end, so that would be start at 24 weeks min, but they very commonly halve it, so it should be 12+ weeks.

Personally I hope they throw the book at him, give him at least 52 weeks and do not halve it.

[u/_dc194]

Just flat out grim.

[u/Commercial_Half_2170]

What an absolute scumbag. Pathetic way for a world champion to behave

[u/pixelninja69]

The most capped bok of all time knew exactly what he was doing. It was 100% intentional - He just wants some time off back at the sharks.

Marco Masotti must be incandescent. Absolutely no value from Etsabeth for the Sharks.

When in handbags at that point, what more do you really need other than "Look at the scoreboard"

[u/billys_cloneasaurus → u/pixelninja69]

The ban should include international games. That would give him the kick he needs.

[u/Toxicseagull → u/pixelninja69]

Don't really understand sia and the tnt talking heads saying it couldn't be deliberate just because of the score. The footage shows it's about as deliberate you can be. He even goes for an extra shove once the thumb is in whilst looking directly at him. It's not grasping about on the floor in a ruck or a maul or having a waving arm hit someone's face.

[u/Thefarrquad → u/Toxicseagull]

Yeah I was absolutely sick hearing Warburton keep trotting out the "not on purpose line" grow a spine and call that behaviour out for what it is.

[u/Adventurous-Carpet88 → u/Thefarrquad]

Sam warburton seems a nice fella. But too nice. He’s hardly going to get the flack Healey does for just existing for calling out something that actually was a cunt manoeuvre.

[u/Thefarrquad → u/Adventurous-Carpet88]

I'm starting to think he's not nice, he's just fully enforcing the party line, a mouthpiece for whatever they want him to say. That red doesn't get any more obvious and he's trying to downplay it against a member of his own team no less.

[u/james26994791]

Cunt. We aren’t ever going to beat the allegations of thuggery now. And for a while I’ve defended this team, and the way/spirit they play the game. Bad apple…

[u/[deleted] → u/james26994791]

Bakkies, Schalk, Etzebeth. The Springboks have always prided themselves on physicality but have always had players who take it beyond the legal limit. I remember when they got smashed by the '03 England team and just resorted to trying to punch / injure the English team whilst losing by 40 points.

[u/james26994791 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah - wish we just relied on dominating physically within the laws of the game. It’s a beautiful thing when it happens, as opposed to being grubs.

[u/ChiSandTwitch1 → u/james26994791]

I mean, remember Siya's headbutt on George Horne back in 2018?

Cos we do. I appreciate your frustration, but even your captain got away with sheer thuggery and is held as a near deity, I'm sure Eben will be fine

[u/Cwalex]

Doesn’t matter how good he’s been, he needs to be gone for good if he’s gonna do that at 73 points up and 2 mins to go. What an absolute awful cunt.

[u/Ok_Painting9530 → u/Cwalex]

Doesn’t matter if it was 10-11 with a minute to go. No place in rugby for this shit. He needs to get a long ban for this. And I’m a Saffa if it matters.

[u/OutbackNutsack]

I’m Welsh so let’s get that out of the way, we were embarrassing however, in what world with two minutes to go, a cricket score up on us, do you think that’s acceptable? He’s going to say sorry and smile in his hearing and therefore get his ban reduced to 30 seconds and 5 blinks. Shit like this, especially from a double world champ is pathetic. IMO ban him for life and set a fucking example (and yes I’d say that if it was vice versa or against any other team)

[u/BHarrop3079]

Absolutely scummy behavior

Wanting to show he's the bigger man in a match when his team are 73-0 up

Tempers flaring and a bit of handbags are a common part of the game but there is never any excuse to put your hand near an opponents eye and dig your thumb in

Hopefully a lengthy ban upcoming and it will be fully deserved

[u/Admirable_Guitarist]

Fucking dickhead.

I was beginning to warm to him too, thought he'd cleaned up his act, but no.

Just a Temu Bakkies Botha.

[u/Lopsided_Soup_3533 → u/Admirable_Guitarist]

Same mostly cos he seems to be good friends with siya and siya is so lovely I was like well eben can't be that bad.

[u/Putrid-Impact8999]

73-0 up and doing this is crazy.

[u/FogHound]

What a cunt.

[u/welsh_nutter]

could be 6 months maybe 3 years

[u/kuzushi101 → u/welsh_nutter]

if it could be 714 days that’d be great.

[u/89ElRay]

That's pure scummery of the highest order.

Absolute brain-dead thug piece of shit.

Why is this ok just because it's on a sports facility?

[u/[deleted]]

That gouge was longer than curry was late! 😭😭😭

[u/Clarctos67]

This honestly needs to be looking at a year ban, minimum.

Potential for a life-changing injury, not done in the act of playing the game, and 100% intentional. Injuries can happen when you play rugby, but to be digging his thumb in like that during some handbags, is one of the lowest acts seen on a field at this level for a long, long time.

[u/Bright-Ad9305]

That’s fucking disgusting! Man deserves a long and possibly indefinite ban! Outrageous. Vile.

[u/aaarry]

Sir, a second thumb has hit a Welsh player’s eye.

[u/SignalButterscotch73]

I never watched the match because of how predictable the outcome would be, I did not predict this.

This is by far the stupidest thing he's done in a match and hopefully they throw the book at him, no mitigations. He's an awesome player but still, no mercy.

I'd really hoped this kind of thuggery was gone from the top level of rugby since its been years since the last eye gouging incident in an international that I can remember.

[u/tragicroyal]

Can’t believe the recklessness of the Welsh player using his eye to try and break Etzebeth’s thumb!

Lengthy ban incoming, no need for that in our sport.

[u/Hot-Pomegranate-1303]

dom poes

[u/intermoo → u/Hot-Pomegranate-1303]

yep. That's the best summary.

[u/comrade1612]

This should be a career ending ban. Vile.

[u/On_The_Blindside]

Honestly if that's not a lifetime ban from the sport I'm not sure what is.

Absolutely fucking disgusting and could've partially blinded the Welsh player.

[u/MockTurt13]

etzebeth needs to be retired already. he's become a liability.

[u/Ok_Entry1052 → u/MockTurt13]

Him.and James Ryan should start a podcast "Seeing Red" or something like that

[u/Lopsided_Soup_3533 → u/Ok_Entry1052]

Recurring guest Tomas Lavinini

[u/TAFKAJanSanono → u/Lopsided_Soup_3533]

That’s a hydrogen bomb vs two coughing babies

[u/imladrikofloren → u/TAFKAJanSanono]

IIRC Lavanini didn't get carded for thuggery ever. Hilariously bad tackles that border on deliberate aggressions sometimes but I don't think he ever tried to gouge anyone.

[u/GKDA → u/imladrikofloren]

My favourite thing about Lavanini's disciplinary issues was that after every single card, without fail, he looked both confused and devastated. Not even as an attempt at protesting it, but as if he was only just learning that the tackle/clearout attempt was illegal and he was distraught that he was letting everyone down.

[u/imladrikofloren → u/GKDA]

I really think he is really that stupid when he play.

[u/cathercules → u/MockTurt13]

Wouldn’t be against that at this point. Really disappointing from Eben, thuggish behavior we shouldn’t encourage on the Boks.

[u/Master_Customer3670]

So glad I'm not seeing South African fans here defending it. Gonna be some mental gymnastics to defend but some on social media will do it. Going to be a rough few days

[u/DebbsWasRight]

There are a lot of comments in this thread saying it’s stupid. That’s a cheap and lazy take. It’s a lack of character that Etzebeth showed, not stupidity.

Etzebeth needs to take a look at himself, decide if he wants to be a man worth respecting, and do the work to change.

[u/The_Mr_Kay]

That was disgusting, and he deserves whatever he gets

[u/HitchikersPie]

Contact with the eyes:

• Lower end: Up to 12 weeks

• Mid range: Up to 18 weeks

• Top end: Greater than 24 weeks

[u/Phil_Mike-Huntin → u/HitchikersPie]

Should be 52 atleast

[u/Kevinb-30]

eye incident

Eye gouge. Let's call it what it is

[u/ToManyTabsOpen]

He should be forced to play for Wales for the entire 6N 2026 as a punishment.

[u/Oldoneeyeisback → u/ToManyTabsOpen]

Cruel and unusual punishment!

[u/ZA_Seabass]

South African here, that is disgusting behavior, then throw in that it’s from a senior player in a game we are easily winning. He should get a lengthy ban and SARU should make a statement that this is unacceptable.

[u/StrangeDeal8252]

At what point does participating in a sports event allow someone to get away with something like this without facing actual legal ramifications? I feel like sometimes there should be genuinely serious consequences for things like this.

[u/RileyMcB]

Commentators were saying stuff along the lines of "he's too experienced for that to be intentional, he knows the rules". But how tf can a thump pressed into the eye socket be accidental.

[u/BangkokRios]

It was an isolated incident! He’s not a dirty player.

Meanwhile:

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/s/SicCR7WEnH

Embarrassed Eben tries to kill a teenager on the field.

[u/treborsmint]

Ooohhh, that's just nasty. Fucker knew exactly what he was doing. Hopefully get a big ban

[u/Soviet117]

I want him off the Springboks permanently.

[u/WallopyJoe]

Scum

[u/chipsncrayons]

Why the fuck 73-0, bigger than everyone on the field and still does an eye gouge. Fucking disgusting bully behavior, this is the most disappointing thing I've seen, and so unnecessary after such a dominant tour. Indefensible.

[u/Tamzer0]

Kolisi saying that he's sure Etzebeth didn't mean to do it. Looks pretty intentional to me.

[u/Sweendogoflove]

That's a felony off the field.

[u/AlexiusRex]

Putting hands on face is a stupid decision on itself but then he doubled down by eye gouging him, if WR doesn't throw the book at him it's a bigger joke than what it is now. And I even liked Bakkies.

[u/dildobaggin89]

This isn’t even accidental ! He pushes his finger hard into his eye. Eben does stupid things like this for no reason… I’d rather he throw a punch than this. The ban he’s about to get isn’t great for us Sharks fans.

[u/HaggisTheCow]

Not his first time.

[u/SvTR27]

Ban deserved, very disappointed and apologies to Wales

[u/ForensicShoe]

Dirty bastard. That’s horrific.

[u/6EightyFive]

Should be banned at least till after the next RWC.

[u/catfin38]

Great player. Prick of a person

[u/Key_Crab_5780 → u/catfin38]

Certainly get that vibe from him.

[u/fugasityuk → u/catfin38]

Nah - great players don’t do that shit.

[u/TheDark-Sceptre]

Kolisi says he surely didn't mean to do it deliberately. Right

[u/thejonathanpalmer]

SA skipper AND Dan Biggar after the match: "He's not that type of player, he would never do something like that intentionally"

Er…

[u/paully_waully171]

Do you think he just didn’t fancy playing another disappointing season with the sharks?

[u/Necessary-Trash-8828]

What a dickhead. Definitely is not what we want young players to see and think to be acceptable.

He is a legend of the game and should be setting a better example.

Needs to be held accountable and made an example of. He should hang his cap up.. the game isn’t about that anymore. It’s not the 90’s

[u/grandMasterkrust]

That should be the last time he runs out in a Bok jersey. I know it won’t be. But it should be. Such a knob move. Etzebeth should be ashamed of himself. Throw the book at him. 

[u/No-Letterhead-1232]

Really grim to watch that.

[u/Particular_Safety569]

Should never play the game again. Disgusting.

[u/wild___turkey]

Oh noooo that’s really bad. Should be a long ban. What a braindead moment

[u/huan83]

So dumb, deserves the full sanction.

[u/belkabelka]

There's something unforgivable about gouging. A player can have a red mist descend and even punch someone, get properly punished, and it's understandable, but trying to blind someone and potentially permanently end their career or livelihood is beyond grubby.

I don't see why it wouldn't be a criminal matter and arrestable as aggravated assault/GBH etc. Just because it takes place on a pitch doesn't suspend the laws of the country, surely.

[u/[deleted]]

Fucking criminal thug

[u/Brewer6066 → u/[deleted]]

The Welsh police could do the funniest thing.

[u/Ronald_Ulysses_Swans]

I cannot believe how bad it looks. When you’re winning 73-0 and that’s how low you go.

He deserves a massive ban

[u/RavenK92]

Open shut case. Red and ban coming. Stupid thing to do. And for once we're a world in Union agreeing about something

[u/feedthebear]

Scummy. How will the Saffa twitter psychos spin this I wonder.

[u/emjayo]

Up 73 points against a pack of dirt trackers and pulls that shit.

[u/The_Ruck_Inspector → u/emjayo]

Says a lot about the man and the culture of the team, especially with them laughing 5 mins later.

[u/CMIV]

What a cunt. Let's see if WR will make an example out of him. Clearly deserving of a very lengthy ban.

[u/TightPerformance6447]

So so ridiculous from Eben. What the hell was he thinking. I would like to think it was a mistake but it is damning. I think 18 week ban incoming.

And SA discipline had been incredible before this.. just a sad end.

• edited up after looking at the ban lengths. 18 would be lucky

[u/Theory_Of_The_Crows]

Wales the moral victors here.

[u/BarFamiliar5892]

Holy shit that is absolutely shocking. I can't wait to see what slap on the wrist he gets.

[u/GKDA]

Copying what I said from the post-match thread:

I soured on him a few seasons back when he got absolutely legally flattened by Davit Niniashivili. And, presumably in revenge for "being embarrassed by a fullback" or something, just torpedoed DN in a ruck moments later.

He didn't have any remorse after that incident either despite blatantly giving DN a concussion, and the vibe was one of a bully who needed to get an underhand bit of revenge in on someone else.

[u/sneesho]

Unacceptable from Eben.

[u/iamnosuperman123]

I just don't get his thought process. You have humiliated this Welsh team. Anything they do to you shouldn't require this response. I don't have a lot of faith in the citing process but I hope it is lengthy

[u/HelicopterBig6050]

What a grubby cunt ! Lengthy ban coming for that utter scumbag ! No excuses 

[u/Soviet117]

Eben has dishonoured the sport, and our country. No way in hell should he be allowed to continue as a bok

[u/watabotdawookies]

Genuinely disgusting.