Matt Williams backs lengthy sanction for Eben Etzebeth after 'senselessly violent act'

Etzebeth has been suspended for 12 matches following his red card in the latter stages of South Africa's 73-0 victory over Wales in the Springboks' final game of 2025.

The ban rules him out of action until at least March next year, leaving the Sharks scrambling to find a replacement.

Williams hit out at the Springboks lock's actions but added that World Rugby's decision to introduce the 20-minute red card while retaining the permanent sanction has been vindicated.

"The action that still sits at the pinnacle of the dog act table is regrettably still with us," Williams wrote in the Irish Times.

"The senselessly violent act of Eben Etzebeth, in attacking the eye of Welsh backrower Alex Mann, did not just break the boundaries of the social contract of what is physically acceptable in our game; it smashed it.

"To the officials' credit, Etzebeth was correctly given a full red card by the referee, putting to bed once and for all the ridiculous arguments that the 20-minute red card had undermined the referee's ability to correctly sanction egregious foul play."

Etzebeth's actions have been widely criticised by pundits, ex-players and even his former teammates.

Ex-hooker Bismarck du Plessis described it as 'a horrible incident' while Schalk Burger joked that he was better off punching Mann but added that it was 'silly'.

Former referee Nigel Owens and England legend Ben Youngs have also weighed in on the controversy with Etzebeth widely slammed for his actions.

The widespread denunciation from the rugby public is a positive, according to Williams, who believes that the length of the ban also serves as a warning to players thinking of committing similar acts.

"What has been good for rugby is the condemnation of Etzebeth's actions by players, coaches and all sections of the media. It was an ugly, violent and dangerous act," he said.

"The 12-game suspension that was handed down by the judiciary is a substantial punishment. The length of the suspension was not just because eye gouging is a dog act, but because it was committed by one of our game's best players. Being a role model carries both responsibilities and consequences.

"Rugby's message regarding eye gouging to future generations has been made crystal clear. By giving Etzebeth a 12-week suspension, World Rugby is telling our current generation, and those of the future, that eye gouging is completely taboo."