Etzebeth’s making giant strides
8 Jun 2012
GAVIN RICH, writing in SA Rugby magazine, looks back at Eben Etzebeth’s rapid transformation from average schoolboy centre to Stormers’ second-row star.
The day after the news of Rassie Erasmus’s resignation as Western Province senior professional coach broke, a gaggle of Cape journalists were gathered on the touchline of the Hermanus Primary School rugby field, watching the Stormers sweat in the mid-January heat.
It says something for Eben Etzebeth’s physique that he was able to deflect the conversation away from the Erasmus saga.
‘Hey, who the hell is that monster? That one over there, the one who looks like a superhero?’ asked one hack.
It didn’t require more than a second glance to recognise the big fellow as one of the stars of the UCT Varsity Cup triumph from the previous year. But, perhaps because Etzebeth was wearing a vest, or maybe because injury had prevented him from playing more than a bit part in the WP U21 campaign in 2011, it did look at that first sighting of 2012 as though he had bulked up considerably.
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‘Superhero would be a good description of him; he does have an amazingly proportioned physique,’ agrees WP U21 coach John Dobson. ‘In fact, his biceps are something of a talking point around him. They’re massive and when we have fines meetings we make him show them off as a party trick. He is just ridiculously strong.’
Indeed, and a few days later he was reminding us that he could play a bit too.
His first game for the Stormers was the pre-season friendly against Boland in Wellington, and the force with which he hit the rucks bolstered the impression that the Stormers had indeed uncovered a superhero.
Among the memorable early Etzebeth moments was when he drove a Lions player back several metres in the pre-season game at Newlands, something which by the time Super Rugby had arrived was becoming a regular occurrence. Few young locks have smashed their way as emphatically into the frame in their first season as Etzebeth has.
‘It was incredible to watch Eben make his debut for the Stormers; he had absolutely no trouble making the step up and it was as if he had been there for years,’ says Steph Nel, who was responsible for guiding Etzebeth through his year at the WP Rugby Institute in 2010. ‘It was a huge debut and he was such a presence on the field that it was hard to believe he had undergone an almost overnight transformation from age-group player to Super Rugby star.’
It is fairly well known that Etzebeth is a member of the Etzebeth clan that became part of WP rugby folklore in a previous era. Eben’s uncles Cliffie and Skattie were responsible for terrorising many an opposing player and there is seldom a rugby gathering in the Cape where at least one story about the exploits of the legendary tough men is not told.
But growing up in Goodwood and attending one of the less fashionable schools had its drawbacks, and had it not been for former Springbok lock Hennie Bekker spotting Etzebeth’s giant form while helping out at a training session at Tygerberg High in 2008, the Stormers would not now be benefiting from Etzebeth’s thunderous contributions.
‘I was preparing to coach the Tygerberg 1st XV when I saw this massive bloke running on the other field with the B or C team,’ recalls Bekker, who is in charge of WP’s youth development and the general manager at their School of Excellence. ’I was told he was one of the Etzebeths. I was immediately interested, particularly because he was such a massive physical specimen. But he was playing centre, and had also played wing. He was just messing around in the backline. He didn’t appear to be taking his rugby particularly seriously. He seemed to enjoy the game without having any expectation.
‘I called him over and we had a chat. I invited him to attend my WP elite squad training sessions. He was in Grade 11 at the time. I told him he had to make a pact with me that he would work really hard, otherwise he would just be wasting my time. I also told him he would have to switch to lock and that would be the only position he would play from then on.’
Etzebeth made the promise and Bekker reckons he more than delivered on it.
‘I was immediately impressed with his dedication. He seemed determined to make something out of the opportunity he was being offered. There was no doubt from the outset that he had immense raw promise,’ recalls Bekker. ‘He had all the attributes for a lock in terms of strength, but he was also very skilful, probably because he started out playing in the backs. For a big guy he was surprisingly athletic. Most importantly, there was a hardness that I liked.’
Given the reputation built up by his uncles in their years playing club rugby in the province, it would be understandable if there was an expectation that the young Etzebeth would be a chip off the old block. Jacques Hanekom, chief executive of the WP Rugby Institute, has detected that there is a tendency for people to assume that Etzebeth will be a wild man.
‘People expect him to be a loose cannon but that is not the case at all. When he was at the institute we had no problems with him on or off the field,’ says Hanekom. ‘In actual fact he’s quite calculated on the field. He thinks about what he is doing; he has the right mixture of calculation and aggression. I don’t foresee him becoming like Bakkies Botha in terms of running into disciplinary problems later on in his career.
‘When he was with us he was a reserved kid, you could almost say he was quite shy, but he was extremely focused and dedicated. When a kid comes to us he has to tick certain boxes related to performance and attitude on and off the field. Eben ticked them all. We knew we were working with the full Monty.’
Bekker concurs with Hanekom’s view, saying that he is sure Etzebeth will be one of those who keeps his feet on the ground regardless of how quickly he progresses through the ranks.
‘In his matric year he played for WP Schools. That was 2009, just one year after he was moved to lock. But through that he remained very level-headed, and he knows his progress has been down to sheer hard work. When he was injured last year he worked hard on bulking up, and this year we are seeing the results.’
One of his uncles, Allie, remembers Eben as a sports-mad kid who through his years at Goodwood Park Primary School and later at Tygerberg always seemed to have a ball in his hand and was constantly playing or practising sport.
‘He was a good athlete, excelling in the 100m and 200m, but rugby was always a big passion in the family after what Cliffie and Skattie achieved as players,’ says Allie.
‘He was really fast for a big guy, and that was why he played centre and wing for most of his school career. He was one heck of a difficult guy to stop when he had the ball in his hand. He was always such a pleasant kid too, and he has a real soft heart. The Bulls and the Sharks were keen to get him to sign with them. They made good offers, but Eben decided he wanted to stay in Cape Town and look after his mom.’
When Etzebeth attended the WP Rugby Institute he was part of what Nel called the institution’s master class.
‘I remember saying once before that Francois Hougaard was the cream of what we produced in terms of natural attributes and professional attitude. But in 2010 we had several players who were all in the same category as Hougaard,’ says Nel.
‘Eben, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Nizaam Carr, Scarra Ntubeni … we had a phenomenal pack of forwards and they all have something special about them. Eben still had to mature but he had fantastic results in all the tests we conducted on him. The only problem I can recall is that he was just so damn big that it was impossible for the other guys to pick him up in the lineouts.’
Funnily enough, Etzebeth’s size has been responsible for the one small headache that his elevation to Super Rugby has caused for Stormers forward coach Matt Proudfoot.
‘I’ve had to work with Eben on a few things at scrum time as it is never easy to get a guy who stands over 2m tall to fit easily into a scrum unit. He has a lot of body that needs to be put into position,’ says Proudfoot.
But that small problem aside, you won’t hear Proudfoot complaining about the size in the Stormers second row, where Andries Bekker also stands over 2m tall. Proudfoot sees the ease with which Etzebeth has adapted to senior rugby as a triumph for the systems that have been put in place at WP since 2008.
‘Eben has been coming to the High Performance Centre for quite a while now so it’s not a new environment for him and it has helped him fit comfortably into the top team.’
Proudfoot sounded an ominous warning to future Etzebeth opponents who might think they were seeing anything close to the finished product.
‘There is so much more he still has to show us. For a start we haven’t really had to use him in the lineout. He is an outstanding lineout forward and when there is a game when Duane [Vermeulen] and Andries are shut down we will see the full extent of his repertoire. He is also going to come more into his own as a ball-carrier. He is an awesome athlete.
‘He’s growing in confidence, which is the result of being backed in the pre-season and playing in all the warm-up games. As a young player he had to be physically up to the challenge. He went through that barrier and it enabled him to prove to himself that he could not only survive at senior level but also excel there. One of the great things about him is that he is proactive in his decision-making.’
Etzebeth has played all his rugby for the Stormers as what old-timers would call a front lock, but he played his junior rugby in the No 5 jersey.
‘He can play No 4 and No 5, but he is not a light jolly jumper-type player that has become the norm in modern rugby,’ says Dobson. ‘Matt is working hard on getting him to be a fusion of the two. Not many locks can be both. Eben is not as dirty as some locks who fulfil the role he does but he is also no angel. Let’s put it this way, I wouldn’t like to cross him on the field. In fact, I wouldn’t play against him at all. He’s scary.’
– This article first appeared in the May issue of SA Rugby magazine.
631 Comments
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8 Jun 2012, 23:30 pm
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-588: Thought you were hailing Donkey… Now you talking Barney… Come now kehla, make up that flip flopping vegemite mind… Tomorrow is Jeans day despite the big leadership boots he has to fill…
8 Jun 2012, 23:31 pm
@JL1(JL1)-594: Ja… Lol… Farken evil Poms
8 Jun 2012, 23:32 pm
@JL1(JL1)-591:
JdV is going to be Heyneke’s saving grace.. without JdV Heyneke is actually Fckd’ BIG time.. and I reckon he kinda knows it ..
Just imagine he’d have gotten his wish and FdP was leading Boks out tomorrow… BIG fckup deluxe on the horizon.. that’s exactly why FdP chickened out .. little does Heyneke the Kaizers lantern actually know…
If JdV was Bok captain the past 4 years Boks legacy under PdV would have been a COMPLETE different kettle of fish.. none of those gifted losses we suffered under that fatfck deluxe handing the competition easy wins on a goddamn platter laced with gold..
8 Jun 2012, 23:32 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-593:
> You do know tighthead is not a b.lowjob
No a tighthead is a new player in the Keurboompark Pride Rugby team
The next day he won’t be that tight a head anymore
8 Jun 2012, 23:34 pm
Jdv is a bullshitter of note – just pray for home ground advantage on those klipharde sa velde
8 Jun 2012, 23:34 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-598:
no w that is funny, Vikkie. you got me
8 Jun 2012, 23:36 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-595: I know Bloem, and some nice ones but fark me Pretoria takes the Koekie Cake… Serious… Even Durbs/Umhlanga doesn’t come close…
Yes, every Rose has a thorn… Except Banshee is a whole bush of thorns… But hey I’m stuck with her.
8 Jun 2012, 23:37 pm
@KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark)-606:
Dankie Boet
8 Jun 2012, 23:38 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-607:
home alone tonight, boytjie? feels like boarding school, ne.
8 Jun 2012, 23:39 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-604: hehe
8 Jun 2012, 23:40 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-601: just putting your warped perspective straight..
that useless idiot of a captain fck’d Boks up to hell.. or your eyesight as warped as your stupefied sense of loyalty
JS COST Boks the 2011 WC.. He COST Boks all the 3N results I showed you in post 588, JS was a HOPELESS captain.. Nowhere NEAR in JdV’s league.. that why JdV wanted to punch him on the nose.. because JdV knew Smit was riding the fanfare bandwagon WAY past his sell by date and overstaying his Bok welcome.. had PdV used some common sense and axed Smit and made JdV captain at least by 2010.. PdV’s legacy would have been a success.. guaranteed.
Smit cost Boks PLENTY.. but in some dumb deluded hero worshiping eyes he’s still a goddamn saint… 8 from 10 3N losses and a WC quarter final exit .. and the rest..
8 Jun 2012, 23:42 pm
Off to the sipclub. Going for poles.
8 Jun 2012, 23:43 pm
Ave maria – smit smit smittertjie – say what u want he won the world cup – his gdamnsaving grace cos he fkd tge last one into tge ground – actually I’m getting pissed off thinking about that – WTF did he just not let the thing go? ****** bismark was so much better
8 Jun 2012, 23:44 pm
@KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark)-609: No… at boarding school I didn’t have a maid to cook and clean… Just skivvies to do that for the last couple of years… Boarding School truly was “tough”
I had so many of the little b.uggers – Even had one of the little farkers warm a toilet seat for me, by sitting on it for a few mins, in the morning… Had to find stuff for them to do… for me.
Lashed the shy.te out them regularly… Gave me great pleasure
8 Jun 2012, 23:44 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-607:
> Yes, every Rose has a thorn… Except Banshee is a whole bush of thorns…
I prefer them shaved…
Sorry Boet I had to
> But hey I’m stuck with her.
Not the other way around?
8 Jun 2012, 23:45 pm
Janee ekskies 598, some banter, hats off u win
8 Jun 2012, 23:45 pm
@KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark)-612:
> Off to the sipclub. Going for poles.
Sterk staan
Vat dit soos ‘n man
8 Jun 2012, 23:47 pm
JdV is the ONLY player in HM’s squad capable of captaining Bok’s.. WAY better than Matfield.. WAY better than FdP.. WAY better than Spies.. WAY better than Bismark.. and WAY better than Lambie or Daniel
and WAY better than John Smit since 2009
JdV is the ONLY player right now capable of captaining Boks
Next up would have been somebody like Arno Botha or Dewalt Potgieter he could have turned to for his captaincy
But right now JdV is the ONLY candidate for Bok captain and Heyneke is damn lucky that FdP chickened out and Matfield was made illegible by IRB..
8 Jun 2012, 23:50 pm
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-611: You got the wrong cause of those costs… It was all Dippy, bru… Barney tried his best to help the little madman but this time even Barney could not save the Boks…
He nearly did but was Bryced royally in the QFs
Simple.
Now if Jean can be half the Captain as Barney was then he’s going to be good… I hope so, because if not, then he will probably have the shortest duration as Captain for any Bok… Of course we not even including his propensity to get injured just when the rough and tough get going
8 Jun 2012, 23:52 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-615: Lol… Au naturelle is best though… Dont believe a word of what Buttman, Rocco Siffredi or Jenna Jameson say…
8 Jun 2012, 23:54 pm
Smit was a fkn good captain – get off you fkn record – problem us he forgot his strongest quality his ability to suss others and overrated himself – he was overdone – bismark was twice tge player in 2911 and he knows that I reckon – pisspoor effort.
8 Jun 2012, 23:56 pm
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-603:
> JdV is going to be Heyneke’s saving grace.. without JdV Heyneke is actually Fckd’ BIG time.. and I reckon he kinda knows it ..
Jean is the most senior player available and would be the best captain for now
Jean had a lot of problems with injuries through the years
> Just imagine he’d have gotten his wish and FdP was leading Boks out tomorrow… BIG fckup deluxe on the horizon.. that’s exactly why FdP chickened out ..
FdP shoulder is screwed, that’s why he plays in Japan
If he was 100% fit he would been an excellent captain
> little does Heyneke the Kaizers lantern actually know…
Why do you hate Heyneke so much, who would you have had as coach?
> If JdV was Bok captain the past 4 years Boks legacy under PdV would have been a COMPLETE different kettle of fish.. none of those gifted losses we suffered under that fatfck deluxe handing the competition easy wins on a goddamn platter laced with gold..
Not really,they still had the same coach
8 Jun 2012, 23:58 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-620:
It doesn’t really matter, it’s not as if you’re going to turn it down, like they say a bush in the hand is better than two brazillians in the field?
9 Jun 2012, 00:01 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-619:
Barney fckd it up he should have Fckd OFF and Boks would have won.. its a goddamn simple equation
Boks + Barney = LOSS
Boks – Barney = WIN
2006 – 07 Barney captain 3 from 10 result
2010 – 2011 Barney captain 2 from 10 result
even Eoyt 2010 WITHOUT Barney we fckd up Ireland – Wales – England.. (slipped up to Scotland in the rain with foot off the gas syndrome)
When Barney ran on in Eoyt the years before LOST to Ireland – LOST to France…
Simple f’ng equation.. how dumb can anyone be to keep playing Barney and KEEP on g’damn LOSING.. when Matfield captained we WON.. when Barney captained we LOST..
Its PLAIN to see in the records.. EVERY time Barney ran on as captain we goddamn LOST.. every time he didn’t we WON…
How f’ng THICK do these hero worshipers have to be NOT to see the absolute simple lucidity of the reality..??
By playing Barney in WC 2011 PdV actually signed his own death rap.. it was outright dumb stupid SUICIDAL idiocy playing an overweight overrated LOSING captain who only LOST every goddamn game he led throughout 2010 and 2011.. starting since EOYT 2009.
PdV’s goddamn stupefied loyalty to Barney destroyed him.. and the entire team went with it.
9 Jun 2012, 00:02 am
Actually I dint even like smit WTF am I defending him, arrogant. JdV don’t even derserve his spot – that tuilagi fella ain’t goingbto swallow any bs – will run straight over him
9 Jun 2012, 00:03 am
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-623:
On that note outtahere…
Midnight hour makes it Bokbefok day… Much rugby ahead and need some sleep to be at my best for a full day’s rugger…
Enjoy… Cheers
Cheers Skoppie Shrapnel, Cabernet and Ranger too.
9 Jun 2012, 00:07 am
@cab(cab)-621:
Absolute outright shite..
go check the records how many games we won under Smit and how many we LOST
You want I post them up here for you dumb idiots to see in clear light of day AGAIN.??
WC 2007 was ALL Smit EVER accomplished and that was by way of a goddamn fluke WC where nobody bothered pitching up…
Plumtree axed Smit in 2010 CC and WON it playing Bismark under Terblanche if he’s have played Smit he would have LOST.. and the entire Sharks team knew it absolutely.. So PdV keeps faith with the fatfck arrogant twat and throws away his chances of a WC win…
Smit wanted the glory status of being the first and only captain to win WC back to back or twice.. his grandiose fck’d up hero status ambitions got WAY to big for the good of the team .. and THAT is what destroyed Boks chances.. and PdV went along for the goddamn ride.. it was SMIT who LOST BOKS the 2011 WC.. and that is an ABSOLUTE undeniable FACT…
9 Jun 2012, 00:10 am
Bullshit, the record speaks for itself, I don’t like him, drol, but he won the gdam world cup and handled refs and the media second to none.
9 Jun 2012, 00:14 am
Facts are he won the RWC and that gives him fkn priviledges, he and jake, and actually u fkn twats are even more gdam devious with your motives – not a fkn chance do the kings with their own agendas deserve their spot. 2 wrongs don’t make a right – u fkn wrong,
9 Jun 2012, 00:19 am
@cab(cab)-628:
Fk the skew WC.. check his REAL results..
Worst performing Bok captain against top 5 Nations EVER
Check it out for REAL
Smit is / was outright KAK…
I’m out.
9 Jun 2012, 07:06 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-626:
Good morning, p0es! Did you perv on your 14 year old neighbour last night, vuilgat?
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