Mann not dwelling on Etzebeth gouging incident

Back-row forward Alex Mann says he has "moved on" since finding himself at the centre of intense attention after being gouged by South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth during Wales' autumn campaign.

Etzebeth was given a 12-week ban in December after an independent disciplinary panel found him guilty of an eye gouge on Mann in the 79th minute of the Springboks' 73-0 win over Wales.

The two-time World Cup winner later posted a video of the incident, claiming his actions were a reaction to being struck by Mann and that the gouge was not intentional.

Cardiff's Mann, 24, was cleared of any wrongdoing in the incident, which made headlines worldwide and sparked a significant furore across the rugby world.

"It's in the past now," he said. "A bit of handbags - everyone could see what happened. I've moved on and I'm just looking forward to what's next."

Mann admitted the scale of attention surrounding the Etzebeth incident was intense, with the fallout dominating headlines and social media.

"It was pretty mad," he said. "I was getting sent stuff every 30 seconds. It was everywhere. But I didn't really think twice about it - it is what it is. I just got on with my own stuff."

He added: "Obviously it's frustrating when things are said that aren't true. But I know the truth, and it was clear to see. There's not much more I can say on it."

The autumn also proved a significant step forward in Mann's international career. He established himself in Wales' back row, playing in all of Wales' matches during the campaign after bursting onto the international scene with his debut in the 2024 Six Nations.

Mann believes he continues to improve as a player, both physically and mentally, since his breakthrough.

"I feel better as a player now," he said. "Physically I feel stronger and more comfortable, and I feel like I can have more of an effect on games. It's just about giving everything to each match and preparing as well as I can."

Cardiff head coach Corneil van Zyl has been impressed with Mann's development and praised his coachability and attention to detail.

"Manny's intent is next level and his detail is next level," said van Zyl. "He's probably one of the most coachable players I've ever coached."

After a testing festive period in the United Rugby Championship, Cardiff turn their attention back to Europe as they host Racing in the European Challenge Cup at the Arms Park on Saturday.