Dec 10 (Reuters) - South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has accepted his 12-match ban for an eye-gouge on Wales flanker Alex Mann in the Springboks' 73-0 win in Cardiff last month but maintains it was not an intentional act.

Etzebeth will be out of action until April after an independent disciplinary committee handed down the sanction, with some suggesting he got off lightly.