South Africa's 73-0 Win Over Wales Marred by Etzebeth Red Card
In Cardiff, Wales, South Africa's Eben Etzebeth received a red card in the 79th minute for allegedly gouging the eye of Wales flanker Alex Mann during the Springboks' dominant 73-0 victory on Saturday, casting a shadow over the world champions' record-breaking performance.
The incident unfolded amid a scuffle between the teams late in the match, with replays showing Etzebeth's right thumb making contact with Mann's left eye. Referee Luc Ramos, advised by television match official Eric Gauzins, reviewed the footage and deemed the act intentional, issuing a straight red card. Etzebeth, who entered as a replacement in the 52nd minute and scored South Africa's 11th try earlier, had no prior dismissals in his 141-test career spanning 13 years, making him the most capped Springbok.
South Africa ran in 11 tries to secure their largest win on Welsh soil and Wales' heaviest home defeat in history, surpassing a 96-13 loss to the Springboks in 1998. Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu contributed 28 points, including two tries, while other scorers were props Gerhard Steenkamp and Wilco Louw, wings Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie, number eight Jasper Wiese, scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, centre...