Eben Etzebeth is ‘one of the most competitive guys you can get’, said Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus. Photo: AYANDA NDAMANE Independent Newspapers
Should the Springboks come out on top against Argentina on Saturday, it will only be the fourth time in history that they win the Rugby Championship.
The world champions can claim the title for the first time since 2019, although that was a truncated version.
But more importantly, they will be crowned winners of the full version for the first time since 2009, when it was the Tri Nations without Argentina.
South Africa have only won the southern hemisphere competition in 1998, 2004, 2009 and 2019, so this will be the fifth time in the history of the tournament in both of its guises that they claim the top spot should they win.
What makes this year’s title charge all the more special is that it’s coinciding with the record-breaking 128th Test cap of veteran lock Eben Etzebeth at the Mbombela Stadium (5pm start).
He will surpass legendary lock Victor Matfield’s 127 matches.
Eben Etzebeth will become the most-capped Springbok of all time in Nelspruit on Saturday - team announcement: https://t.co/7il888zjh3 4⃣🇿🇦#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/Cdl0l4vrL4
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 24, 2024
“It’s been a couple of years since we’ve won a full Rugby Championship and should we win, it will be fitting for Eben, who might not have achieved that – and it’s something he can maybe do on Saturday,” Bok coach Rassie Erasmus said at the team announcement yesterday.
“The first couple of players we signed in my time at Western Province were Siya (Kolisi, Bok captain), Eben, Kitsie (Steven Kitshoff) and those guys.
“Eben didn’t have an agent and you earned a certain amount playing as a junior, and it went up when you played for the Stormers. He asked what the payment for Super Rugby was, and I asked him why, and he said because he thinks he is going to play Super Rugby.
“And there I thought this guy’s head is in the right place. But he didn’t play because he couldn’t at 18, although Kitsie did.
“Eben is one of the most competitive guys you can get. If we lose against one another or the other coaches when playing darts, then we owe the winner R200. He phoned me two months ago, saying I hadn’t paid his R200 yet.
“He doesn’t like it when the team is not in the right frame of mind, or when people think we are not trying hard enough.”
“He is very competitive and doesn’t like to lose. He doesn’t like it when the team is not in the right frame of mind, or when people think we are not trying hard enough.
“We want to pay things back and give back to Eben too. If we can win the title and finish the competition with a victory, it would be a massive occasion for the team and Eben as an individual.”
Of course, they must first get past Los Pumas, who claimed a 29-28 win in their first encounter.
The South Americans are still in the running to claim the title, but they must prevent the Boks from getting a log point and then they have to claim a bonus-point win by scoring three more tries than their hosts.
The Springboks brought back their heavy hitters yesterday for the clash, with skipper Kolisi leading the side with hooker Bongi Mbonambi, prop Frans Malherbe, loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit and centre Damian de Allende among the returning stars.
Flyhalf Manie Libbok will also get a chance to redeem himself in the starting XV after missing a potential match-winning penalty attempt last weekend, and he will be partnered at halfback by Jaden Hendrikse.
“Manie’s general play is fantastic, and he brings a lot of energy and playmaking abilities to the backline. He dictates play well, so we back Manie fully to do the job for us at flyhalf,” Erasmus said.
“The way we want to play, Manie is integral to that this weekend. We have made some other plans with the goal-kicking as well.
“As a team, we had a little laugh about the memes and stuff that went around. We see it as people who haven’t gone through that and felt that kind of pressure, and don’t know how tough it is.
“We totally understand the criticism ... he takes it on the chin. We as a coaching staff take it on the chin.
“It’s not just up to him to find solutions for his goal-kicking – it is something we have to do as a team, and we are working on a plan.”
According to Erasmus, it’s not an impossible task for their opponents, because the South Africans have proven things are never impossible.
“Felipe (Contepomi, Argentina coach) has managed to bring all his experience into the team. Discipline, which was always an issue (for them) ... we were the team that received a yellow card on Saturday. There is a lot of speed in that team, and he is utilising it very well. We have a helluva lot of respect for them, not just for what they are currently achieving.
“Their players are playing all over the world, but they get them together and they still perform like this.”
“Their players are playing all over the world, but they get them together and they still perform like this. To beat all three southern hemisphere countries is an amazing feat. Argentina really believes they have what it takes to win the title, so we take nothing for granted.”
Springbok Team
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Lukhanyo Am.
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