Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Absolute disgrace' - Bok fans rage over Eben Etzebeth yellow

Eben Etzebeth of South Africa after the Rugby International Test Match between Australia Wallabies and South Africa at Allianz Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Steven Markham/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

They may have won the game, but Springboks’ supporters were left more than a little miffed after talismanic lock Eben Etzebeth was yellowed carded for pushing an obstructing player of his way.

ADVERTISEMENT

Etzebeth was sin-binned after pushing the Argentinian player out of the road as he advanced towards Emiliano Boffelli, who had jumped to claim a high ball.

Boffelli took a heavy fall, although replays showed that the Puma had collided with another Argentine player in the air which altered his trajectory downward, while it appeared that the player Etzebeth had shoved had little to do with the incident.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

Referee Damon Murphy didn’t see it that way and gave Etzebeth his marching orders.

It was a decision that enraged many Bok fans and feeds into the greater narrative of referee incompetency that has been popular in South Africa since the British & Irish Lions tour in 2021.

Popular South African superfan Jared Wright observed: “I don’t agree with that. Eben has clearly pushed someone but his push did not result in Boffelli landing badly. I don’t know how they got to that decision.”

Sports broadcaster Matt Pearce wrote: “Look forward to anyone in rugby officialdom being able to justify that yellow card for Eben Etzebeth. Hope it is removed from his record on review.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The Rugby Balrog wrote: “I really hate criticizing refs, but that card to Eben was one of the craziest calls I’ve ever seen. Carding a guy pushing an obstructing player? Wh… what?”

https://twitter.com/TheRugbyCat/status/1573720983332069376

“The officials have ruined Rugby Union. The Rugby Championship was decided by officials. Eben gets a yellow card for what? Pushing someone out of his way? World Rugby, your refusal to do anything about this is killing the game.”

Another account wrote: “Yellow to Etzebeth an absolute disgrace… Officials are cocking up the game of rugby. And turning people away from the game … It’s becoming very difficult to watch.”

Dylan Jack wrote: “I cannot explain that yellow carding of Eben Etzebeth. Wish I could, but I can’t. Damon Murphy saw something everyone didn’t.”

ADVERTISEMENT

South African journalist Brendan Nel took issue with the Australian referee’s overall performance, writing: “Damon Murphy was terrible today. Crucify me if you must as an internet troll. But any ref who gives 6 yellow cards, and 39 penalties doesn’t want a game to flow. This was supposed to be a spectacle. It was the opposite. And Murphy confused everyone. More than once.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Wolfhounds vs Gwalia | Celtic Challenge 2024/25 | Match Highlights

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 2 | Ireland Week

New Zealand vs Australia: Behind the Scenes with the Black Ferns Sevens Team | HSBC SVNS Embedded | E06

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 1

Argentina v Australia | HSBC SVNS Perth 2025 | Men's Final Match Highlights

The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

Boks Office | Episode 33 | Dupont's Toulouse Too Good

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

4 Comments
J
John 870 days ago

Nothing about the try Eben scored and was then disallowed because he was "offsides"? He caught the ball in the lineout, never let go of it and scored the try, don't see how he was ever offsides.

M
Mike 870 days ago

In my career as a ref I never had reason to award a penalty try nor heard of one - two in one half !! given for Boks pack tripping over themselves.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING Ex-Crusaders recruit now the fittest forward at the Hurricanes Ex-Crusaders recruit now the fittest forward
Search