Planet Rugby seems to think it will be a six week ban which would be a very light slap across the wrist for a reckless act with obvious aggressive intent in a game that was no longer a meaningful contest.

"Etzebeth is likely to get a full migration in his sanction, meaning that unless the disciplinary panel deems the entry point for his ban to be a top-end and adds additional weeks on the guideline 12, at most a six-match ban is heading his way."

Only mitigations for me are that it is Etzebeth's first red card and the Springboks have apologised unreservedly for the incident.

Obviously the whole evidence will be presented at the hearing but I'd have thought a 16-18 week ban is fair.

This match was part of a two match deal with SA which was brokered pre-Covid

Yes, it was a a beating.

Yes, we’re really poor at the moment.

But like all things sport there’s a lot of recency bias in the aftermath of this drubbing.

A far better Welsh team than the one which played yesterday had an even bigger hiding in Pretoria in 1998

June 1999 - almost exact one year to the day - Wales recorded their first ever win over SA

Perhaps lightning will strike twice

And Rassie played in both matches

I'm no lawyer, but the 'justification' of retaliating to an earlier offense isn't the smartest.

That would make the retaliation premeditated and deliberate.

And worthy of greater censure.

When you look at this video, it seems amazing that it was Etzebeth's first red card.

He's the Cyril Gane of rugby

Great finish but spoiled by Etsebeth. Should retired after this. He is way past his sell by date.

@MiketheSnow said in Bokke vs Wales:

I'm no lawyer, but the 'justification' of retaliating to an earlier offense isn't the smartest.

That would make the retaliation premeditated and deliberate.

And worthy of greater censure.

Not a lawyer either. Etsebeth is prone to over the top reaction to being provoked as has been shown many times. Being slapped and or punched in the face right before he retaliated is hardly pre meditated. Certainly these over the top, but what have been harmless reactions up until this point will not help him … I wouldn’t think.

Anyway, sour end to an acceptable season for the good guys.

@sparky Needs to pay a price. A physical price. The Quinnell brothers wouldn’t put up with this shit.

@sparky said in Bokke vs Wales:

Only mitigations for me are that it is Etzebeth's first red card and the Springboks have apologised unreservedly for the incident.

The team apologising isn't a mitigation.

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

Eben has always been prone to over the top reaction. Too bad, that he didn’t just punch the guy out. Dumb dumb dumb. The result will probably be that the instigator will get away scott free.

Waiting patiently for this footage of an instigator.

@antipodean said in Bokke vs Wales:

@sparky said in Bokke vs Wales:

Only mitigations for me are that it is Etzebeth's first red card and the Springboks have apologised unreservedly for the incident.

The team apologising isn't a mitigation.

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

Eben has always been prone to over the top reaction. Too bad, that he didn’t just punch the guy out. Dumb dumb dumb. The result will probably be that the instigator will get away scott free.

Waiting patiently for this footage of an instigator.

It was widely talked about on different forums. Google is your friend.
We will know soon enough though.
I’m sure an impartial committee will get to the bottom of it and we will all be happy with the result of the findings.

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@antipodean said in Bokke vs Wales:

@sparky said in Bokke vs Wales:

Only mitigations for me are that it is Etzebeth's first red card and the Springboks have apologised unreservedly for the incident.

The team apologising isn't a mitigation.

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

Eben has always been prone to over the top reaction. Too bad, that he didn’t just punch the guy out. Dumb dumb dumb. The result will probably be that the instigator will get away scott free.

Waiting patiently for this footage of an instigator.

It was widely talked about on different forums. Google is your friend.

Which different forums? forum.springboksarethebestestandebendidnothingwrong.com?

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@Dan54 said in Bokke vs Wales:

I personally would be happy if Esteben was finished as a rugby player after this. Just stupidity of highest order, and I see nothing to gained from seeing him on rugby field again.

Worth noting that in .. something like 140 tests he has never had a red card. Not condoning his actions today, but he is not a dirty player. A moment of madness.

You have a go at someone's eye you are a dirty player. Doesn't matter you wore white underwear on the outside, a cape, and a "Peace Bro!" armband for 139 tests.

@W32 I haven't seen anything in the images I have seen to show he was gouged himself, unless the Welsh player had double jointed fingers, in fact the image used looks worse for Eben in that he has his elbow in the throat and could even be biting (although no accusation to that have been made so it isnt what the image has potential to show)

Plenty of "no excuse, but he was provoked" bs out there.

Sad really, both for the game and potentially the way for a Saffa great to end his career.

@sparky said in Bokke vs Wales:

When you look at this video, it seems amazing that it was Etzebeth's first red card.

View embedded content

Just likes straightening out the wrinkles on collars. Typical manservant with OCD.

Let’s be fair, Mann rattled the cage and got a reaction

Mann flicked a hand at Eben’s jaw after it had seemingly all quietened down

Then Eben lost it

Big time

@MiketheSnow said in Bokke vs Wales:

Let’s be fair, Mann rattled the cage and got a reaction

Mann flicked a hand at Eben’s jaw after it had seemingly all quietened down

Then Eben lost it

Big time

Whatever set him off, it clearly wasn't any action at the ruck otherwise he'd have done it immediately.

i didnt see the game , was going to have a look at the highlights but saw the scoreline somewhere else and didnt bother ,

now this stuff has blown up everywhere ,

i like Eben , great player , yeah bit of a hothead but seems like a good bloke off the field

gone a bit too far this time unfortunately for him , you would imagine they will make an example of him , otherwise next time player x will say eben only got this penalty

@antipodean said in Bokke vs Wales:

@MiketheSnow said in Bokke vs Wales:

Let’s be fair, Mann rattled the cage and got a reaction

Mann flicked a hand at Eben’s jaw after it had seemingly all quietened down

Then Eben lost it

Big time

Whatever set him off, it clearly wasn't any action at the ruck otherwise he'd have done it immediately.

That’s where it started

Eben came in with an elbow

@MiketheSnow said in Bokke vs Wales:

This match was part of a two match deal with SA which was brokered pre-Covid

Yes, it was a a beating.

Yes, we’re really poor at the moment.

But like all things sport there’s a lot of recency bias in the aftermath of this drubbing.

A far better Welsh team than the one which played yesterday had an even bigger hiding in Pretoria in 1998

June 1999 - almost exact one year to the day - Wales recorded their first ever win over SA

Perhaps lightning will strike twice

And Rassie played in both matches

It's worth remembering (when wanting to rip WRU in pieces), that this game was meant to be played in 2020 and a little thing called covid killed it, then 2021, ditto with covid. And if Wales hadn't played the test they stood to have to pay SARU $1m.

@nostrildamus said in Bokke vs Wales:

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@Dan54 said in Bokke vs Wales:

I personally would be happy if Esteben was finished as a rugby player after this. Just stupidity of highest order, and I see nothing to gained from seeing him on rugby field again.

Worth noting that in .. something like 140 tests he has never had a red card. Not condoning his actions today, but he is not a dirty player. A moment of madness.

You have a go at someone's eye you are a dirty player. Doesn't matter you wore white underwear on the outside, a cape, and a "Peace Bro!" armband for 139 tests.

Reports are that the panel is split on Etsedeths ban. Some say intentional, others accidental. Happy that they are not immediately calling for his head.
You are assuming he went for the eye intentionally.

FFS

"'The giant lock is said to have pleaded his actions were reckless but "not intentional" during a five-hour hearing on Tuesday night that ran until almost midnight, according to South African outlet Netwerk24.

Such was Etzebeth's defence argument, the independent disciplinary panel were unable to reach agreement on the length of punishment and made the unusual request for more time to consider their punishment.

It is reported a verdict could now come as late as Sunday - over a week after the incident which sickened the Principality Stadium. The decision on whether Etzebeth's action was deliberate or just reckless and unintentional is crucial in terms of the length of sanction.'

My reading is that the panel are split on what should be length of Etzebeth's ban, but not that a ban is appropriate.

Ah, South Africans on the panel are there? Poor old Eben.

@reprobate looking at his facial expression while his thumb was in the eye would seem he was very angry and intent on something....regardless of the level of punishment for Eben, watch WR fuck this one up.

The whole carding and judiciary process is a joke and needs an overhaul, including the TMO.

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

Ah, South Africans on the panel are there? Poor old Eben.

Actually, I don't believe so.

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

Ah, South Africans on the panel are there? Poor old Eben.

Actually, I don't believe so.

Well that's good if so. Intent is a very hard thing to prove or disprove in this situation I would have thought - but really my opinion is as simple as: if you make the decision to attack someone's face, well, that's where their fucking eyes are - and that makes it deliberate.

FFS

Didn't Owen Franks get away with an eye gouge? Against the Wallabies??

I might be going against the grain here, but I'm glad the panel are taking their time and gathering all the available evidence and assessing it before announcing what the ban should be. Let's hope they are being thorough and fair in their police work.

@sparky evidence? How many times do they need to view the footage?

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

Ah, South Africans on the panel are there? Poor old Eben.

Actually, I don't believe so.

Well that's good if so. Intent is a very hard thing to prove or disprove in this situation I would have thought - but really my opinion is as simple as: if you make the decision to attack someone's face, well, that's where their fucking eyes are - and that makes it deliberate.

Not sure if that would make for a fair process though. Accidental contact with the eyes is different than deliberate obviously. This could be a career defining issue for him not to mention the money he will likely lose. I find it hard to believe that he went after his eyes.

@MiketheSnow said in Bokke vs Wales:

FFS

No. Fair treatment under the law. He will get a ban, so calm down.

@Toddy said in Bokke vs Wales:

Didn't Owen Franks get away with an eye gouge? Against the Wallabies??

Yep.

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

Ah, South Africans on the panel are there? Poor old Eben.

Actually, I don't believe so.

Well that's good if so. Intent is a very hard thing to prove or disprove in this situation I would have thought - but really my opinion is as simple as: if you make the decision to attack someone's face, well, that's where their fucking eyes are - and that makes it deliberate.

Not sure if that would make for a fair process though. Accidental contact with the eyes is different than deliberate obviously. This could be a career defining issue for him not to mention the money he will likely lose. I find it hard to believe that he went after his eyes.

My point is that if you can't judge intent accurately - which in most cases you can't - then you need to choose to sanction without regard for it - all deliberate or all accidental.
My preference would be to treat it all as deliberate, unless the player isn't in a position to see that it is a face they are targeting. As soon as it is a face and they know it, fuck 'em all off.

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

Ah, South Africans on the panel are there? Poor old Eben.

Actually, I don't believe so.

Well that's good if so. Intent is a very hard thing to prove or disprove in this situation I would have thought - but really my opinion is as simple as: if you make the decision to attack someone's face, well, that's where their fucking eyes are - and that makes it deliberate.

Not sure if that would make for a fair process though. Accidental contact with the eyes is different than deliberate obviously. This could be a career defining issue for him not to mention the money he will likely lose. I find it hard to believe that he went after his eyes.

My point is that if you can't judge intent accurately - which in most cases you can't - then you need to choose to sanction without regard for it - all deliberate or all accidental.
My preference would be to treat it all as deliberate, unless the player isn't in a position to see that it is a face they are targeting. As soon as it is a face and they know it, fuck 'em all off.

Except now you have to make a discernment on whether the player can see the other players face or not. Look, I wish it were as simple as you would like it to be, but it isn’t. These players earn a living playing the game. They deserve a fair “trial”

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

Ah, South Africans on the panel are there? Poor old Eben.

Isn't there a pretty strong rumour the one saying it unintentional is Welsh?

@taniwharugby said in Bokke vs Wales:

@reprobate looking at his facial expression while his thumb was in the eye would seem he was very angry and intent on something....regardless of the level of punishment for Eben, watch WR fuck this one up.

The whole carding and judiciary process is a joke and needs an overhaul, including the TMO.

How does it get overhauled? I not sure it's ideal, but have not a lot of ideas (that wouldn't get shot to pieces), so would love to hear ideas being discussed.

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

@W32 said in Bokke vs Wales:

@reprobate said in Bokke vs Wales:

Ah, South Africans on the panel are there? Poor old Eben.

Actually, I don't believe so.

Well that's good if so. Intent is a very hard thing to prove or disprove in this situation I would have thought - but really my opinion is as simple as: if you make the decision to attack someone's face, well, that's where their fucking eyes are - and that makes it deliberate.

Not sure if that would make for a fair process though. Accidental contact with the eyes is different than deliberate obviously. This could be a career defining issue for him not to mention the money he will likely lose. I find it hard to believe that he went after his eyes.

My point is that if you can't judge intent accurately - which in most cases you can't - then you need to choose to sanction without regard for it - all deliberate or all accidental.
My preference would be to treat it all as deliberate, unless the player isn't in a position to see that it is a face they are targeting. As soon as it is a face and they know it, fuck 'em all off.

Except now you have to make a discernment on whether the player can see the other players face or not. Look, I wish it were as simple as you would like it to be, but it isn’t. These players earn a living playing the game. They deserve a fair “trial”

Line of sight is a shitload easier for an outside observer to judge than the evil in Eben's heart mate.
If it is known that the face is off limits, then what wouldn't be fair about it?

@Dan54 point is, the system seems broken, wildly inconsistent, these people at WR have the tools and resources to find better more consistent ways to deal with it.

Sure, no.model will be perfect, but right now, it is a long way from where it should be for a professional organisation.