## Rassie Erasmus Reflects on Eben Etzebeth’s Red Card Incident Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted that Eben Etzebeth’s red card cast a shadow over what had been an intense and otherwise competitive match. The South African lock was sent off for an alleged eye-gouging incident, a moment Erasmus acknowledged "didn’t look good" upon review. ### Erasmus on the Incident Erasmus said after the game: > "It’s not the way we would have liked to end the game." He emphasized that while the team respected the referee’s decision, the circumstances surrounding Etzebeth’s dismissal were unfortunate. Erasmus added that the coaching staff would wait for official reports before making further comments. ### Team Reaction and Aftermath The Springboks finished the match with 14 men but showed composure in the closing stages. Erasmus praised his players for maintaining discipline despite the emotional impact of the red card. > "We never want to see one of our players leave the field in that way, especially someone as experienced as Eben," said Erasmus. The coach also highlighted the player’s contribution throughout the test series, calling Etzebeth "a key leader and competitor." ### Next Steps Etzebeth now faces a disciplinary process to determine if further sanctions will follow. Erasmus noted that the team would fully support the investigation and cooperate with match officials. > "The footage looked ugly, but let’s allow the process to unfold," he remarked. Erasmus concluded by saying the team would learn from the episode and redirect focus toward their upcoming fixtures. *** **Author’s summary:** Rassie Erasmus acknowledged that Eben Etzebeth’s red card for eye-gouging stained an otherwise strong match, urging fairness while pledging team support during the disciplinary process.

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News24 — 2025-11-29