Overview
- Etzebeth appeared at a Tuesday hearing over his red card for contact with Alex Mann’s eye in South Africa’s 73-0 win, but Netwerk24 reports the panel could not agree on a sanction and the case will be revisited.
- World Rugby guidelines for eye or eye-area contact range from weeks to multi-year bans, with potential mitigation for a first Test red card and reported post-match apology.
- RugbyPass reported there will be no citing against Mann, and officials have not found evidence to support claims he gouged Etzebeth earlier in the match.
- A suspension would hit the Sharks, who open their Champions Cup campaign away to Toulouse before a URC and European run that likely requires cover for the veteran lock.
- Reactions span from Rassie Erasmus calling the dismissal a justified red to Bryan Habana expecting a lengthy ban, while Eddie Jones downplayed the incident’s significance in the context of the game.