South African rugby star Eben Etzebeth has sparked controversy after claiming that the eye gouge incident on Wales' Alex Mann was a 'mistake'. The 34-year-old double World Cup-winner, who is considered one of the best locks in the world, was handed a 12-week ban last week by an independent disciplinary panel.
Etzebeth says his actions were not intentional and that he made contact with Mann's eye as a reaction to being struck in the chin/neck area while standing still. The incident occurred during a game between Wales' Ospreys and England's Leicester Tigers, which was shown on TV.
The rugby community has been divided over Etzebeth's claims, with some defending his actions saying that he didn't mean to injure Mann. Others have criticized him for not taking full responsibility for his actions, even though he accepted the ban.
Etzebeth says his actions were not intentional and that he made contact with Mann's eye as a reaction to being struck in the chin/neck area while standing still. The incident occurred during a game between Wales' Ospreys and England's Leicester Tigers, which was shown on TV.
The rugby community has been divided over Etzebeth's claims, with some defending his actions saying that he didn't mean to injure Mann. Others have criticized him for not taking full responsibility for his actions, even though he accepted the ban.
I gotta say, 12 weeks is still a pretty harsh ban for a 'mistake'. Like, come on Etzebeth, own up to it and take the punishment if you felt that strongly about it 
. It's not like he meant to gouge someone's eye out... but at the same time, I can see why he'd say that - being hit in the face is pretty intense 
. The thing is, it's still a rugby match and you've gotta be able to handle yourself on the pitch 
. Maybe he should've just tried to shake off the guy instead of... whatever happened 
. Anyway, I'm not sure if 12 weeks is enough or too little, what do u think?! 
I don't buy it 
It just feels like an attempt to wriggle out of taking responsibility for his actions... 
! Meanwhile, Alex Mann is over here with a bruised ego and a lifetime of eye-gouging PTSD 
. Can you imagine if someone did that to YOU? 
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. And yeah, I can see how that would be true - if someone came out of nowhere and smacked you in the face while you're standing still, your reaction would probably be a bit... unpredictable 
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. i mean, we all make mistakes & apologize for them, so why can't etzebeth? 
. He gets a 12-week ban and then just says it was a mistake? Like, that's a pretty big mistake to get away with 
. But others are like, "No way, dude, you got hit in the neck/face area and then you go around gouging someone's eye out" 
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. btw, what's w/ the long ban anyway? 12 weeks seems pretty harsh 
. the fact that he reacted by gouging manny's eye instead of just walking away or reacting with his words is pretty telling