The Springboks’ 73-0 annihilation of Wales was marred by a 79th-minute red card shown to Eben Etzebeth for an alleged eye-gouge on a Welsh player — and it does not look good for the veteran.
The Sharks’ coaching staff will have watched that recklessness with sinking hearts, as the veteran now faces the prospect of a six-week ban.
It was also entirely unnecessary, given that the Boks were 73-0 ahead in a completely one-sided match.
Still, Etzebeth’s Sharks and Springbok teammate Siya Kolisi is hopeful it was a misunderstanding. “I am sure Eben did not mean that because he knows the consequences. I am sure it will be revealed that it was an accident.”
Kolisi said his team are thrilled with the win.
“We trained very hard for this game and never underestimated the opposition. We had a plan for this game, and we worked hard, and we got the reward.”
Player of the Match Andre Esterhuizen added: “Everyone knows their role, everyone steps up. It doesn’t matter who plays — from one to 15 in the squad — we know what we have to do.
“When you come to Wales, they are always up for it, but we stuck to our processes, and the performance came to pass.
“We are very happy with what we have done. We have been changing the way we play, and the coaching staff has kept us on course for the games ahead.
“We had a plan; we did not want to play in their half, and we did not.
“While it has been a good day for us, the only way for Wales to get better is to play against the better teams.”
