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Rugby

29th Nov 2025

South Africa great Etzebeth sent off for disgraceful eye gouge in Wales hammering

Colman Stanley

A horrific act of foul play.

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth was sent off by referee Luc Ramos during his side’s 73-0 win over Wales in Cardiff.

It was a record home defeat for the Welsh, as their run of awful form reached a new low.

For South Africa, it was yet another reminder that they are the world’s best side, but Etzebeth’s blatant act of foul play on flanker Alex Mann has put a dark cloud over their November games, with a long ban incoming.

Teams:

Wales: Murray; Mee, Roberts, Hawkins, Dyer; Edwards, Hardy; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Assiratti, Carter, R Davies, Plumtree, Mann, Wainwright.

Replacements: Coghlan, Southworth, Coleman, Ratti, Morse, Morgan-Williams, Sheedy, B Thomas.

Sin-bin: Plumtree 43, Wainwright 53

South Africa: D Willemse; Hooker, De Allende, Esterhuizen, Moodie; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Van der Berg; Steenekamp, Grobbelaar, Louw, Kleyn, Nortje, Kolisi (capt), Mostert, Wiese.

Replacements: Mbonambi, Porthen, Ntlabakanye, Etzebeth, Van Staden, Dixon, Smith, Reinach.

Red card: Etzebeth

Referee: Luc Ramos (France)