Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Eben the gouger will strike again!

Wonder what Ardie is charging to be a character witness?

And there is the crux - Kiwi commentator aggrieved as Eben will be back for the Test series in 2026. Ironic that an all time great of the game - not just in NZ but the world - in Ardie gave a character reference. Shows the respect that these players have for one another.

This is stupid. If it happened in a club game before the NZ tour of SA they’d be all for it applying across levels.

This way makes way more sense. Some players might never get an international cap again.

It was disgusting to watch. He could have blinded the guy. He should have been out for at least a year. It is a blight on the game.

While he was stupid to react, no matter what the provocation (like Cobus Wiese back in the Italy match in July) was, I'm still hacked off about the fact that the double neck tackle on Sacha that led to that loose scrum by Plumtree's dirty son Taine along with Carter received absolutely no action by the (both French once again) TMO and ref even though they could have broken Sacha's neck it was so bad. These officials need to up their games (and down their bias) ASAP. And opposition commentators need to STFU for a change?

I think this is nonsensical and suggests an ulterior motive of using this incident to depower the Springboks. Surely that cannot be what this should be about? 12 matches is fair. Lets move on. By the way Nigel Owens has also said that he does not consider EE a dirty player. This was an unfortunately unintentional occurrence.

One assumes that any player now cited can ask for a character witness from his grandma being taken into account, whereby she proclaims that he’s a lovely family guy, and kind to kids and furry animals!!

So a club rugby guy’s eye is less important than a test player’s eye. Trouble with a lot of folks is that they want an outcome not a sanction.

A rather arrogant and disrespectful remark from a clueless commentator, as it is his club that pays for his salary and it is they who miss out on his services.

Seen quite a few comments from around the world that the ban should be for internationals and not club games….didn’t see this mentioned when Ryan got his joke of a 2 week suspension for being a human torpedo into Marx’s face🤔

It’s not weird at all, it’s the kind of thing brothers do to fill the time between knocking the stuffing out of each other.

Only some will understand, the rest get to be spectators watching The Greatest Rivalry on tv.

Waa waa. Boo hoo hoo.

Test level crime should equal test level time.

So they’re saying that either the ban should be arbitrarily extended beyond the time decided by the disciplinary panel in order to include Test matches, or that the player should be able to play for his club immediately but sit out Test matches to serve the ban?

Sounds like a poorly thought through position!

But it’s more than 12 weeks, it’s 12 matches which takes us in to April. It’s actually 18 weeks that he’s out for.

Way too harsh. Bit of a thumb rub, welsh dude was just a Hollywood.

Comment feed on the app is really helpful. Good update

Great to see more media commentators and presenters with some harsh feedback about a disgusting and terrible incident! I agree with their point about players serving their time with missing domestic/club games and then coming back roaring for the test arena.