“There will be a very serious investigation by World Rugby” into Etzebeth Springboks controversy
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Controversy.
Michael Hooper and Morgan Turinui believe World Rugby should investigate the substitution controversy involving Eben Etzebeth during Australia’s dramatic 42-38 win over South Africa.
The Springboks lock briefly left the field in the second half, with Franco Mostert returning despite Rassie Erasmus having already used all eight replacements.
Confusion followed over whether Etzebeth had departed for a head injury assessment or another injury. He subsequently returned to the action before being replaced again later in the match.
Speaking on the Between Two Posts podcast, former Wallabies captain Hooper questioned whether the HIA process had been used to get around the restrictions on replacements.
“It was farcical, it was an absolute mess,” Hooper said.
“I don’t like the fact that – and we’ll find out, and that’s the great thing about the investigation – if you’re trying to bend the rules around safety, trying to use the HIA as a way to cover up a potential mishap with how you’ve rolled out the bench, I think that that’s got to be looked into very seriously.”
Australia had led by 25 points before South Africa’s late fightback, with the hosts finishing the match with just 11 players following four yellow cards.
Turinui said the confusion highlighted the risk Erasmus had taken by emptying his bench so early.
“Whatever actually happened in and around who decided it was a HIA, what the miscommunication was, there will be a very serious investigation by World Rugby into this,” Turinui said.
“If you risk it all with your eight bench and your player gets injured, you should be finishing that match at 14 men.”
Erasmus denied trying to exploit the regulations, explaining afterwards that he had misunderstood why Etzebeth was leaving the field.
“Eben had a shot against the neck, and I thought he was going for HIA. We don’t control that from a coach’s box, what he’s going for,” he said.
“So when the doctor told me he got a knock against the neck, I thought he was going for HIA, and I think that’s where the confusion is. I think he wasn’t marked as HIA; he was marked as injured. Then, obviously, you can’t put another player on.”
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