South Africa ended their gruelling five-week end-of-year tour with a record 73-0 demolition of Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, but the emphatic victory was overshadowed by a late red card to veteran lock Eben Etzebeth.
WATCH | Springbok star set for lengthy ban after eye gouge
Etzebeth, who earned his 141st Test cap, had just scored the Springboks’ 11th try when a scuffle broke out in the 79th minute.
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French referee Luc Ramos reviewed the incident and sent the lock off for making contact with the left eye of Welsh flanker Alex Mann.
‘Seriousness’
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus acknowledged the seriousness of the incident post-match.
“I don’t know what I can say that won’t be controversial,” Erasmus said.
“It didn’t look good, and it was a justified red card. How it happened, why it happened, or whether he was provoked, I’m not sure. But it’s definitely not how we wanted to end the game. The optics were not great.”
The dismissal took the shine off what was otherwise a dominant Springbok performance, featuring 11 tries and a flawless defensive display that kept Wales scoreless.
The victory capped a taxing tour on a high note, though the team now faces the prospect of losing Etzebeth to a significant suspension as disciplinary proceedings loom.
Meanwhile, Erasmus also had words of encouragement for Wales.
“Things can change quickly, and a lot can change in one year. If you look at the players they lost in one patch, there were so many players I’ve coached against, and they are experienced guys, who understand the Welsh psyche and what they stand for.
“When you lose 15 guys at one time, it’s hard, but eventually somewhere it will come right.”
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