Eben Etzebeth, celebrating his record-breaking 128th cap for South Africa, expressed heartfelt gratitude to his teammates following their emphatic 48-7 victory over Argentina in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
The win at a packed Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday secured the Rugby Championship title for the Springboks, their first since 2019, and cemented Etzebeth’s place as a Springbok legend.
With 43,578 fans in attendance, the Springboks delivered an extraordinary performance, scoring seven tries to dominate Argentina.
This marked their highest try count in the competition since their 73-13 demolition of the same opponent at FNB Stadium in 2013. The victory also sealed the southern hemisphere crown for South Africa, as they finished the tournament on a high note.
Etzebeth, who became the most capped Springbok forward in history, acknowledged how crucial this win was to mark the milestone in his illustrious career.
“The milestone wouldn’t have been nice if we’d lost this game, so the team really showed up tonight,” he said after the match.
“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. The trophy was the big thing, and we’ll celebrate it very nicely tonight.”
Reflecting on his journey, Etzebeth paid tribute to the teammates who had been by his side throughout his career, particularly those with whom he had shared multiple World Cup campaigns.
“There are guys I have been with at three World Cups, won two World Cups, guys like Siya, Jesse, Handré, Frans, Willie, Damian… I’m leaving a few out, but I wouldn’t have reached this milestone without those players,” he said.
Despite the personal milestone, Etzebeth remains focused on the future. While keeping his ultimate goals private, the 31-year-old lock expressed his determination to keep performing at the highest level.
“It’s about staying fit and pushing the body as far as it can go,” he noted.
“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. So, I’ll keep pushing, training hard, and performing for my club, and hopefully, the coaches will keep selecting me.”
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus praised Etzebeth’s contribution to the team and the overall performance of the squad. Erasmus highlighted how the team had navigated a challenging season, using a large pool of players, but ultimately delivered when it mattered most.
“The pressure has been on the players to gel quickly, and I must give credit to the coaching staff and all the backroom team for keeping on believing despite all the changes,” Erasmus said.
The Springboks utilized 49 players over the course of the season, with 35 featuring in the Rugby Championship.
Erasmus emphasized the importance of experienced players in guiding the team through critical moments, particularly referencing young fly-half Manie Libbok, who had missed a crucial penalty the previous week.
“When you get to these crunch games, it’s the older heads and the calmer heads that sometimes pull it through, and they help pull through a guy like Manie,” said Erasmus.
“They understand the bigger picture, and then things like this happen where all of us are privileged to sit with Eben today.”
Erasmus also praised the team’s effort in keeping Argentina, a notoriously physical and attacking side, to just one score.
“It was a much better performance than in Argentina, but it was a good performance and something to build on,” he said.
“Overall, I’m very happy, happy for Manie, happy for South Africa. But the end-of-year tour is now our target, and going through that undefeated.”
For Etzebeth, the win and the team’s performance serve as a fitting celebration of his remarkable career, but as always, his eyes remain fixed on the horizon.
As the Springboks continue their march forward, Etzebeth’s experience and leadership will undoubtedly remain key to their success.
Source: SA Rugby
