Springboks great cops huge ban for 'brainless' eye gouge

South African great Eben Etzebeth has been suspended for 12 matches for an eye gouge against Wales last weekend.

The ban covers matches for the Durban-based Sharks through until the end of March.

The club deregistered Etzebeth this week in anticipation of a lengthy ban.

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Etzebeth was red-carded at the end of the record 73-0 win in Cardiff after a scuffle with Alex Mann, where he was caught on video with his right thumb in Mann's left eye.

It was the first red card of Etzebeth's 13-year international career. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner has played the most tests for the Springboks with 141.

The gouge was determined to be intentional by an independent disciplinary committee. Etzebeth pleaded guilty and apologised.

Regarding a sanction, the panel started at 18 weeks and reduced it by six weeks taking into consideration his previous disciplinary record.

He was the third player to be red-carded during the Springboks' five-match unbeaten tour of Europe in November. Lood de Jager was suspended for four matches but Franco Mostert's red card was rescinded.

The criticism came in thick and fast for Etzebeth following the ugly incident.

"It's possible that Alex Mann did something to set Eben Etzebeth off. But there is no excuse for a player of his experience to react in that manner. He deserves a big ban.," journalist Jared Wright said via X, also labelling it as "brainless" in another post.

UK reporter Charlie Herbert also slammed the act.

"How on earth can you be 73-0 up with two minutes to go and still have the horrible anger within you to gouge an opponent's eye? Eben Etzebeth's a nasty piece of work."

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi defended Etzebeth after the initial incident.

"I'm sure he didn't mean to do that on purpose," Kolisi said.

"You go for an eye gouge you know what happens after that. He said sorry to the guy already but I don't want that to be the highlight of the day. It's been a good day."