‘If the body’s good, I’ll continue to go’ – Eben Etzebeth not done with Springboks yet

A NUMBER of days after the match in Mbombela, the significance of what happened that night still stirs the emotions.

Eben Etzebeth, who earned his 128th cap for the Springboks on the night, expressed his gratitude for an “unbelievable performance” from his teammates after their commanding 48-7 victory over Argentina in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. This triumph, witnessed by a packed Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, secured South Africa's first southern hemisphere crown since 2019.

The crowd of 43,578 erupted as the Springboks dominated the game, scoring seven tries and marking their most prolific performance since their 73-13 win against Argentina at FNB Stadium in 2013.

“The milestone wouldn’t have been nice if we’d lost this game, so the team really showed up tonight,” said Etzebeth after the match, reflecting on the significance of the moment. “The Rugby Championship was on the line; it was a final tonight, and we all wanted to win that trophy. The guys wanted to make it special for me, but it will always be a team sport, and the trophy was the big thing … It was an unbelievable performance from everyone.”

Etzebeth took a moment to acknowledge the teammates who have shared his Springbok journey, mentioning several by name: “There are guys I have been with at three World Cups, won two World Cups, guys like Siya, Jesse, Handre, Frans, Willie, Damian ... I’m leaving a few out, but I wouldn’t have reached this milestone without those players.”

Despite his success, Etzebeth remains driven to continue representing the Springboks. “It’s about staying fit and pushing the body as far as it can go,” he said. “I’ve made no secret that the reason I play this game is to play for this team; to perform for my club and to be selected for the national side – that’s the ultimate.”

While Etzebeth prefers to keep his career goals private, he made it clear that he’s not done yet: “I never like to share my goals with the public – I like to keep it close to my heart – and I’ll still push on, and if the body’s good, I’ll continue to go.”

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus also weighed in, calling it a privilege to share in Etzebeth’s record-setting day and lauding the team's overall performance during a memorable season. “The pressure has been on the players to gel quickly, and I must give credit to the coaching staff and all the backroom team and the guys for keeping on believing despite all the changes,” he said.

Erasmus highlighted the team’s resilience, noting that they had used 49 players this year, including 35 during the Rugby Championship. “When you get to these crunch games, it’s the older heads and the calmer heads that sometimes pull it through,” Erasmus added, referencing Manie Libbok’s redemption after missing a crucial penalty in a previous match.

Although the coach acknowledged areas for improvement, he was thrilled with the team’s intent and praised their defensive efforts against a strong Argentina side. “It was a much better performance than in Argentina, but it was a good performance and something to build on,” said Erasmus.

With the Rugby Championship title in hand, Erasmus set his sights on the end-of-year tour in November, eager for the Springboks to continue their winning momentum.

Etzebeth’s record-breaking achievement and the Springboks’ emphatic victory could very well be remembered as a highlight of the 2024 season. South Africa’s rugby legacy continues to grow, and with veterans like Etzebeth leading the way, the future looks bright for the Springboks.