NELSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – Imposing South Africa forward Eben Etzebeth has avoided the spotlight this week despite being set to become his country’s most capped international, as he plays a 128th test in Saturday’s Rugby Championship decider against Argentina.
The 32-year-old Etzebeth was named earlier this week in the line-up for the clash at the Mbombela Stadium but there has been an almost deliberate effort to downplay the achievement.
He has not appeared at any of the press conferences this week and when the team was announced on Tuesday, the accompanying press release briefly detailed Etzebeth’s achievement but took a further 17 paragraphs before quoting coach Rassie Erasmus about the record breaker.
“As a former Springbok I can attest to what a massive achievement it will be for Eben to become the most capped Springbok ever, and we are all very proud of him and want to make this a special and memorable occasion for him,” said Erasmus.
“He has not wanted any focus on him to detract from the team,” a team official told Reuters on Friday.
But it has not prevented tributes to the double World Cup winner whose intimidating man-mountain like presence in the scrum has been symbolic of the force and power of the Bok pack.
“If you talk to Eben about the Springbok environment, it’s a place he loves being in. He has given so much to this environment and this sport,” hooker Bongi Mbonambi said about his teammate this week.
“A lot of people who don’t know Eben think he is this serious guy. But he is actually one of the jokers in the team. He loosens the mood up when there’s too much tension. Also, when it is time to get serious, he’s the guy who knuckles down.”
“His tackles around the field, the work rate, it’s just unbelievable. And then when it comes to the physicality, he never takes a step back,” added former lock Victor Matfield, whose record he is breaking.
South Africa must avoid a heavy home defeat to win the Rugby Championship over Argentina, who trail them by five points in the standings.
Etzebeth was in the team the last time they won the annual southern hemisphere championship in 2019.
He won his first cap in 2012 against England and has started 118 of his 127 tests.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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