Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett says financial penalties need to be looked at as a way of deterring players from ill-discipline.

This follows Bok enforcer Eben Etzebeth being sent off in the final minutes of South Africa’s 73-0 demolition of Wales in Cardiff after making contact with the eye area of Alex Mann. While the incident has sparked fierce debate, Mallett believes players at Test level know exactly the risks involved.

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“Unfortunately if you play lock for an international side like South Africa – from Frik du Preez right through to Bakkies Botha to Eben Etzebeth – these are hard guys who don’t take a backward step,” Mallett said on the Talking Boks podcast. “People start saying, ‘Yeah, but you know, there was mitigating circumstance, he was abused or he said something about his family or he got a slap.’

“Players know that if you put your hand in an opposition player’s face and your fingers go close to his eye, you are really risking a long ban. It just seemed to be so unnecessary at the end of the game.”

Mallett said he understood Etzebeth’s anger in the heat of the moment, but insisted the Bok enforcer must accept what comes next.

“I can understand him getting angry and wanting to threaten the player. I can understand that because you can’t go from what is essentially a boxing ring into a sort of debating society. It doesn’t work like that. Your anger overflows, but you have to take the consequences.

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Mallett feels financial penalties from clubs could help deter dangerous incidents, suggesting the Sharks may have grounds to recoup money from their star player if he is banned for an extended period.

“I’m wondering if the owner of the Sharks for example can’t take money out of Eben’s contract, saying you’re not playing 10 games. We can’t pay you for the time you’re not playing,” Mallett said. “You know, you should be playing for us in these 10 games. It’s one thing getting injured because that’s not your fault. But something like this, it would have quite an effect, I think, on player behaviour if they were going to be hit in the pocket as well as getting banned from the field.”

He pointed to the recent example of Bulls prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who’s currently serving an eight-week ban for foul play and missed out on the Springbok tour.

“If you look at Jan-Hendrik Wessels, he’s personally lost quite a bit of money from not going on the spring tour. I mean, I think it’s in the region of one and a half million rand.”

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Mallett said the potential financial fallout for the Sharks could be severe if Etzebeth is sidelined long-term.

“So, what are the ramifications if someone like Eben doesn’t play for the next six months for the Sharks?”

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