Colossal impact
20 Nov 2012
Eben Etzebeth had an outstanding first season of professional rugby.
In 2011, Etzebeth played for the University of Cape Town in the Varsity Cup. In 2012, he became a Springbok regular.
The second rower, who turned 21 on 29 October, was a deserved winner of the SA Young Player of the Year award. A product of the WP Rugby Institute, he had no problem making the step up to Super Rugby in February and his selection for the Springboks in June, for the Test series against England, was a no-brainer.
Etzebeth has inevitably drawn comparisons with former Bok lock Bakkies Botha, as both perform an enforcer-type role, but the Stormers lock has a calmness and measured aggression that Botha did not have at the same age.
It’s scary to think how good he could become.
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In the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, Saru high performance manager Rassie Erasmus explains why the Botha comparison makes him ‘uncomfortable’, what makes Etzebeth such an imposing player and why he doesn’t believe the youngster will stagnate.
Heyneke Meyer talks about what he likes about Etzebeth, the one thing that worries him about him, and why he came down hard on him following the Nathan Sharpe headbutt.
SA Rugby magazine also asks Etzebeth about his rookie season, the Botha comparison, the Sharpe headbutt, his Test preparations and his toughest opponent.
Also in the new issue:
– Pat Lambie insists he has not been frustrated during his time with the Springboks this year and is happy to play flyhalf or fullback
– The Springbok goal-kickers had failed to transfer their success on the training field to the high-pressure Test arena going into the end-of-year tour
– Central contracts: Why South Africa’s top players must be contracted to Saru and not to their provincial unions
– The Blitzboks made a promising start to the new sevens season
– Former Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott has let his rugby do the talking at French club Castres
– Jaque Fourie aims to resurrect his Springbok career in 2015 once he’s fulfilled his Japanese club obligations
– Former Springbok captain John Smit has a new lease on life since moving to Saracens
– Josh Strauss on his move to Glasgow, the possibility of playing for Scotland, and the Lions’ relegation from Super Rugby
– How Western Province beat the odds to win their first Currie Cup in 11 years
– How Alan Solomons revived Eastern Province rugby
– A band of rugby missionaries wants to grow rugby in Africa
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217 Comments
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20 Nov 2012, 13:34 pm
@Atreides-196: @katman-197: come try you two little snot nosed fuckwits thinking the sun shines from out your joined at the hip arseholes.
20 Nov 2012, 13:35 pm
@Skeppie-194:
You are correct, but I applaud the Scots for trying to nullify the tactic. It is a disgrace and should be against the laws of rugby.
20 Nov 2012, 13:37 pm
@skopdiekan-201: You definitely have something lodged up your base chakra and it’s throwing your alignment all over the show. If meditation doesn’t work for you, try a laxative. Peace out.
20 Nov 2012, 13:39 pm
@katman-203: with all the kak he spews I’m sure the laxative gets stuck in his throat.
20 Nov 2012, 13:39 pm
@skopdiekan-201: How will that work?
20 Nov 2012, 13:39 pm
@trupisero-199: Fair enough…there wasn;t much to celebrate…that was one kak performance
20 Nov 2012, 13:39 pm
@skopdiekan-201: You keep on as if I know Katman. I don’t. I just share his opinion of you.
20 Nov 2012, 13:58 pm
Headbutting and gouging, is that you Bakkies?
20 Nov 2012, 14:02 pm
@NZINCHINA-208: China……stir that pot my man!
20 Nov 2012, 14:04 pm
@Atreides-186:
Yeah, probably right. Refs would have a hell time and they would be looking for defending team bringing it down
@Atreides-187:
lol
yeah.
@TooMuchRugby-195:
Yeah, it is too messy for my liking. It is really the only time players can take other players out without the ball.
20 Nov 2012, 14:06 pm
@TooMuchRugby-200:
@Skeppie-194:
yep, but players joining a maul in front of the ball in side seems a bit off.
20 Nov 2012, 14:15 pm
Hi Skeppie sorry too easy that one, he’ll have to watch himself though otherwise he’ll get pinged by refs who are on the lookout.
20 Nov 2012, 14:42 pm
@Hurricane-211: I hear you but them is the rules….refs need to blow accordingley otherwise they should change the rules. personally I like the fact that some teams can open up a game with a strong running game and others can muscle their way to points via a maul…keeps things interesting
20 Nov 2012, 14:43 pm
@NZINCHINA-212: Fair point but the eye gouge thing is a crock of rubbish so in his career to date the onyl thing he has done is the so called head butt on Sharpe which to me was a fake butt which just barely touched the skin on Sharpes nose. Point is valid though he needs to be careful.
20 Nov 2012, 15:04 pm
The so called hardmen of world rugby have been marginalised by the pooft ers at the IRB, bring back rucking and 90% of the problems will go away
20 Nov 2012, 15:04 pm
Skeppie the so called hardmen of world rugby have been marginalised by the pooft ers at the IRB, bring back rucking and 90% of the problems will go away
20 Nov 2012, 15:06 pm
@NZINCHINA-208: No, that is Keven Mealamu and Brad Thorn.
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