Etzebeth Red Card Mars South Africa’s 73–0 Rout of Wales

‘It Didn’t Look Good’ – Erasmus on Etzebeth Red Card in Cardiff Rout

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus admitted that Eben Etzebeth’s red card for eye gouging “didn’t look good” as the Springboks completed a dominant autumn campaign with a 73–0 demolition of Wales in Cardiff.

The final whistle was nearly overshadowed by a 79th-minute red card shown to Etzebeth, who made contact with the eye of Wales flanker Alex Mann during a late-game scuffle.

“It didn’t look good and it was a justified red card,” Erasmus said post-match.

“Whether he was provoked or not, I’m not sure… but it’s not how we wanted to end the game.”

Etzebeth Faces Likely Ban After Historic 141st Cap

The 34-year-old lock, who scored South Africa’s final try of the match, earned his 141st cap — extending his record as the most-capped Springbok forward. However, the landmark occasion is now likely to be followed by a lengthy suspension.

Etzebeth’s club side, the Sharks, open their Champions Cup campaign on 7 December against Toulouse, with further matches against Saracens and South African rivals over the festive period.

Springboks Run Riot in Cardiff: 11 Tries, Total Domination

South Africa steamrolled Wales, scoring 11 tries in a ruthless performance that reaffirmed their number one world ranking to close out 2025.

It marked a perfect autumn clean sweep following victories against New Zealand, Argentina, and now Wales.

Despite the red card drama, Erasmus praised the team’s “controlled aggression”:

“This was a really clinical performance — our soul was in this game. We’ve been building and building, and this was the result of that work.”

Erasmus Offers Words of Encouragement for Wales

Wales’ nightmare run under new coach Steve Tandy continues — the defeat marks their 21st loss in 23 Tests, including heavy defeats to South Africa, New Zealand, and Argentina this autumn.

Still, Erasmus empathized:

“Wales have a great coach and they will come back. We were in the same situation in 2016 and won the World Cup in 2019. One or two wins can change everything.”

Match Summary: Wales 0–73 South Africa

• South Africa scored 11 tries, with dominant set-piece play, relentless forward pressure, and blistering pace in broken field.

• Eben Etzebeth sent off in the 79th minute for eye contact with Alex Mann.

• Springboks finish 2025 ranked #1 in the world after back-to-back Rugby Championship titles.

What’s Next?

The Springboks now look ahead to their 2026 campaigns, brimming with squad depth and momentum — albeit clouded by disciplinary scrutiny surrounding their star lock.

Meanwhile, Wales must regroup ahead of the Six Nations, with major concerns around form, coaching stability, and team confidence.