'Lucky not to see straight red': What triggered Etzebeth's manic episode

The second test between the Wallabies and the Springboks at Allianz Stadium in Sydney exploded after Makazole Mapimpi's unsportsmanlike conduct after scoring a try over Marika Koroibete.

For the second week in a row the two wings collided in the corner but this time the Springbok wing scored his try as Koroibete tried to wrap the ball in an attempt to hold him up.

The tackle attempt was a legal attempt by the Wallaby but Mapimpi took exception and grabbed him by the throat area sparking a wild confrontation between the two sides.

Koroibete was quickly surrounded by three Springboks after trying to grab Mapimipi back before his Wallabies teammates could make their way over.

Never one to shy away from a push-and-shove, South African lock Eben Etzebeth was in the thick of it with Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa which had many on Twitter impressed with his fiery show labelled 'terrifying'.

Winger Makazole Mapimpi was issued a yellow card for his role in sparking the unsavoury scenes that threatened to spill over into the crowd, but Etzebeth was not punished despite French touch judge Tual Trainini trying to break up the action.

Welsh rugby writer Stephen Jones thought Etzebeth should have been shown a red card for his role in proceedings, which he described as 'inflammatory' after previous warnings for his side.

The Springboks had conceded five straight penalties for ill-discipline and were on a warning in a period of play a few minutes before the melee started.

One fan called for the introduction of unsportsmanlike penalties to deal with instances of aggressive behaviour shown by the Springbok lock.

It is not clear how Etzebeth and Alaalatoa became entangled as the Springbok was initially tangled up with reserve flanker Pete Samu. Both players appeared to fall over into the pile of bodies.

One South African fan believes that he identified why Etzebeth was so mad, sharing a clip that shows Alaalatoa butting heads with the Springbok to set him off.

It is unclear whether Alaalatoa was retaliating to an earlier indiscretion.

The pair were able to squash their differences after the game with Georgina Robinson of the Sydney Morning Herald reporting the two were seen sharking hands, unlike Pablo Matera and Dane Coles in the All Blacks Argentina game.