Eben explains

South Africa lock has taken to social media to “owe everyone an explanation” after receiving a 12-week ban for gouging.

The 34-year-old was slapped with the ban last week for gouging Wales flanker Alex Mannduring a scuffle in the final minutes of South Africa’s 73-0 at the Principality Stadium in November.

Etzebeth received the first red card of his career for the incident, and accepted that he was guilty in a post on Instagram, but provided some context to the incident in a 404-word message.

In the post, the double World Cup winner explained how he did not intend to make contact with the eyes of Mann, but the dynamics of the brawl resulted in the red card incident.

Though he provided some context, Etzebeth said he deserves the suspension, and vowed he will not be red carded again.

“Hey Everyone,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I’ve been quiet, but now that my hearing is done I think I owe everyone an explanation

“First of all, this is not a post to show that I was not guilty, I accept guilt. I made a mistake and I’m willing to serve a suspension which I deserve.

“I don’t want young kids who look up to the Springboks to think that it’s OK to eye gouge someone, because it’s not, but unfortunately mistakes happen and I made a big one for which I’m sorry.

“But I’d like to answer the question – why did you do such a thing?

“It was a mistake caused by my reaction and other factors that played a role.

Slide 1: The scuffle was basically over when Wales #7 struck me with an open hand to my chin/neck area, you can see me looking at the Assistant Referee and waiting for a reaction from him (it happened fast and it’s understandable that he didn’t see it) without reacting yet, I got another pull on my jersey, before I go in with the similar type of action.

“Slide 2: You can clearly see my first point of contact is against his shoulder with an open hand, just like he did, except he got me on the chin. Another thing worth mentioning, when he struck me, I was standing still with not a lot of movement or players trying to get involved. When I went for the same open hand towards his shoulder, you’ll see 2 Welsh players changing the dynamic of the entire picture as well as one of my teammates pulling Wales #7 around his neck away from my hand and where my force is going.

“Slide 3: Another Camera Angle

“So why did I post this? To try and show people how everything happened and that it was never intentional. I would never do something like this on purpose, I know what the consequences will be after playing rugby for a few years.

“Thanks to everyone that stood by me and thought the best of me. I’m sorry for letting you and the game down. That was my first red card since I started playing. I want it to be my last.

“To the people that were angry and upset with my actions, I understand – because it didn’t look good on the slow motion replay and hopefully you’ve got a bit more context now.”

Good man Eben….a pity that some in the Bok coaching box, the media and the fan group stupidly leapt to the wrong conclusion. Here’s to 2027!

Sorry Moz, you must wrench open your other eye mate!

Itsabutt was as guilty as sin and the more he goes on about it, the guiltier he looks I’m afraid….

I wonder how long it took his spin doctors to fabricate this fantasy??

Moo, where did he say that he wasn't guilty?

Ah bullshit Moo if he had intentionally tried to gouge a nobody in a nothing game having never offended in the past one would have to conclude that the likes of you are mentally challenged reaching such an ignorant conclusion

Eben never intended to eye gouge the guy as he says - the fact that it looks like he did justifies his punishment which he acknowledges

If Eben had a history of being dirty I’d be laughing at his explanation

Sorry Saffolk, it just doesn’t wash with me. You only have to see the grimace on his face and how he was advancing to know it was fully intentional and a dog act.

Even some of your countrymen on this site have condemned this for what it was so it’s time you jettisoned your blatant bias!

Oh fuck off - then why has he never committed such an act in all 100+ tests he has played in not to mention every club game he has played in?

Why does he not have a record of foul play?

Well he does now! Just because he hasn’t been caught before doesn’t absolve him. That’s a ridiculous assumption and actually pathetic!

Moolaa, You’re a New Zealander who clearly has a problem with tough South African players, so spare us the lecture about “blatant bias.”

You claim Etzebeth is some “dirty” player who finally got caught.

Really?? The man has played 138 tests for the Springboks and a whole career of club rugby on top of that.

ONLY one red card.

If he was this lowdown thug that you want him to be, he wouldn’t have only one red card, he’d have a whole list of them.

Also don’t act like the handful of South African posters who jumped on him are some neutral judges.

Some of them have never liked Eben because he’s big, physical and dominant.

That’s their own personal bias, not some objective rugby analysis.

You’ve already decided he is guilty because it fits your agenda.

You don’t care about the player, the record, or the incident.

You care that he’s a Springbok and you’re from New Zealand. That’s the whole story right there.

So before pointing fingers about bias and hypocrisy, maybe look in the mirror first…

Another pathetic response MPower. Just own it like Itsabutt should have. Can’t believe your amazing attempts at mitigation.

”He’s not guilty Your Honour because he’s never done this before!”

Is that the same defence a murderer would use after his first kill pray tell?? Probably would come to think of it…..

Moola, comparing a rugby incident to “a murderer on his first kill” is a stupid comparison and you know it.

Nobody said Eben is innocent because it’s his first red card.

The point is simple: a player’s record over his whole career counts when judging intent.

You’re ignoring that because it doesn’t suit the little story you’re trying to spin.

And again, you keep accusing everyone else of bias while you’re the one from New Zealand, carrying on like an old woman with a wet panty over a South African lock.

You’re not some neutral judge here. You’ve already made up your mind, and now you’re just throwing silly examples around to try make it stick.

Moola you are a fucking idiot - so Eben has got away with dirty play for 15 years - fuck off

Are you really this stupid?

Eben has never been dirty and he certainly has not started that path aged 34

To be fair who gives a fuck what you think anyway. Given Eben’s track record and how he comes across I take his word for it - he did not intentionally eye gouge the nobody in a nothing match with a minute to go

He is not as stupid as you are

Just keep telling yourselves it wasn’t intentional boys. How about reading other blogs on this issue perhaps? The only ones defending him are Saffers you’ll find. Me being a Kiwi has nothing to do with it. I’d call out any AB that did the same heinous act. He really did get away with murder!!

He’ll be forever remembered outside SA as a thug and he can’t get away from that.

Blah blah blah…Moolaa you Kiwi Blokes will use any excuse to get one over us…especially now that you can’t regularly beat us on the Rugby field anymore:)

Moolaa stop being a silly moo... I remember Richard Loe breaking an Aussie player's nose, after the winger scored a try ( as the winger dotted down, Loe's cynical far too late attempted tackle resulted in his forearm vigorously smashing into the poor fella's snout) .

EE's record speaks volumes.

"You only have to see the grimace on his face and how he was advancing to know it was fully intentional and a dog act."

He looks like that in all the handbags stuff...

He looks like that in all the handbags stuff...

Ja/nee, the one part of his game I don't like ... find it embarrassing.

Aggression is part of the game...controlled aggression...sometimes it boils over...it's not netball.

"He’ll be forever remembered outside SA as a thug and he can’t get away from that."

Sadly that is true.

That is what I meant when I said he's tarnished his reputation . . . before all his fan-boys who don't know what the word "tarnished" means got all tearful and indignant.

Bobbok, I’m not about to defend Loe as he was a thug of great proportions. Paul Carozza was the Aussie winger he elbowed in the face after he had dotted down for a try in a test in Brisbane I think.

He also infamously eye gouged Greg Cooper of Otago in the NPC final vs my Waikato team in 1992. That was a truly heinous act and he was banned for 9 months which was well deserved.

As I said, I’ll call out any Kiwi player who transgresses just like I have with Itsabutt.

Mooo LA LA lal lA living in LA LA LA land. A kiwi mong of note.

What an amazing about turn by a number MGU members giving support.to a Bok player unfairly vilified. My campaign is clearly working!!!

Eben's reputation as one of tbe greatest locks ever will not.be damaged. In fact everybody now knows this rugby great had before this incident (with its provocation) received the first red card in 141 tests. Ie show me another international lock with thst type of superb disciinary record over an extended career.

Although Rooitwit has matured somewhat in recent years he still dislikes tough dominant locks like Eben. He also hated Bakkies. He hated tough as teak Schalk Burger but loved the dainty Luke Watson.

Rooitwit rugby is a rough sport oak not bowls on a well manicured green. Hahahahahahahaha.

Bye the way Rassie said the optics were bad and they were until all factors are taken into account.

Hoping the rest does Eben a ton of vood and he makes the next RWC.

Moo we don’t give a fuck what outsiders think of Eben - to us he is the best lock to have ever played the game - an athletic, monster - uncompromising and confrontational - never dirty

A Bok legend - one of our best ever

Yes, a Bok legend and one of our best ever . . . up to RWC2003.

Ever since then he's been a slow, anonymous plodder and his eye-gouge was disgraceful. You guys defend it all you like, you'll never change my mind. It was nothing short of embarrassing.

No longer even a candidate for best ever Bok in my book.

Rhonda nobody is trying to change your mind…nor is anybody the slightest bit interested in your book.

Saffolk, for someone who says he doesn’t give a fuck about what I think, you keep on chirping back and desperately defending your hero!!

I don’t give a shit what you think but I’ll always have something to say

Much ado about nothing. Mann got off lightly and Eben probably got off even lighter. He's copped his ban and if he says it wasn't intentional, I believe him. JGPs hands in the eyes of SFM the week before looked worse and nobodies said that he intended to blind or scar Sacha for life.

For a rugby Forum there's an awful lot of pearl clutching that goes on.

Yes pearl clutchers sums it up very nicely Xavi.

When you are reduced to bashing an all time great like Eben, the most capped Bok of a time, you are a pretty hopeless case. Hahahahahaha.

Time to trade in your pearls Rooitwit. And those pink tights. Bwahahahaha.

Ag Shame Mampara Beeno, are you and Preacher RooiTit not friends anymore??

Well, that didn’t last long…Bwahahahahahahahahaha..:)

"For a rugby Forum there's an awful lot of pearl clutching that goes on."

Jy weet dan!

Mampara power rooitwit and I go back a long way. I find rooitwit one of funniest guys on the board. these days I agree a bit more with what he posts as he has grown as a person but of course I don't agree with everything. So I support him on certain issue and not on others.

Now for a complete gimp like you and a member of the MGU that must be all very odd! Bwahahahahahahhahahahahahaha

More like you have shrunk HasBeen than Rhonda has grown.

Na, Moz, more like you have lost a bit of your sense of humor...take a step back....or not...

That would be sad, if we can’t laugh at ourselves on here that leaves mostly HasBeen and Rhonda.

Never take a step back Draad…..that’s why Eben is the greatest lock in the history of rugby.

Perspective is lost if you're zoomed in too much.

actually this shit's boring, but when he sticks to playing .... magnificent.

I'm not attacking Eben here but at the same time, is there anybody here that thinks that even if it was intentional he would come out and say "Yeah, I intentionally eye gouged him."?

Of course he would not say it was unintentional and of course he would not say that it was retaliation for an attempted eye gouge on him by Mann.

I think it was both intentional and it was in retaliation for what Mann did...I've watched that video and Mann's hand goes to the face of two players in that ruck.

Horse shit Plum...you think he did that intentionally...so you buy into the "EE is a dom Dutchman grunt" narrative...lazy thinking Plum, I used to mesure you to a higher standard...fickle...go join Rudehole in hus prejudice.

Shame on you plum, to come up with such nonsense, is below your standards…Ai jaai jaai.