Former Springbok wing Bryan Habana says Eben Etzebeth’s red card in Cardiff should not detract from his immense contribution to the game.
The Bok enforcer was sent off for making contact with the eye area of Wales flank Alex Mann in Cardiff on Saturday.
The world champions closed out their season with a commanding 73-0 win at the Millennium Stadium, but Etzebeth’s late red card cast a shadow over an otherwise ruthless performance.
The lock scored the final try of the Boks’ 11-try haul before he and Mann clashed, resulting in Etzebeth being dismissed for an eye-gouge.
WATCH: Was Eben eye-gouged first?
Habana, speaking on X, said the officials had no option.
“Also.. I’ve just seen the @Springboks score line but more so the incident with Eben… as great a player and person as he is, there’s no room for that in the game.
“Justified red card and should be facing a lengthy time on the sidelines…”
Etzebeth’s case is now with an independent disciplinary panel, which will determine the sanction. World Rugby’s guidelines allow for a wide range of suspensions: intentional or reckless contact with the eye can carry up to 208 weeks (four years), while contact with the eye area can go up to 12 months. The eventual punishment is expected to be far shorter, but the committee’s interpretation of the incident will be decisive.
The red card was out of character for a player who, despite his hard-edged reputation, has rarely crossed that line over a storied career that now includes the most Test caps in Springbok history.
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One user on X argued that the incident should force a rethink of Etzebeth’s legacy, writing: “Think that act demands a reassessment of any perceived greatness… And now he has this permanent, glaring stain on his record.”
But Habana flatly rejected that sentiment.
“I disagree with you about a reassessment of any perceived greatness,” he replied. “He has not only been the ultimate professional, hardest worker and team man but he has become SA’s most capped player because of how great he is…
“Multiple SA rugby player of the year awards. He should have, in my opinion won a World Player of the year award.
“Two rugby World Cups behind his name.. The youngest player to reach 100 caps… 1 incident, as bad as it is, should not take away how influential a player he is.”
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Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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