Eben Etzebeth needs game time, according to ROB HOUWING, and with that the Springbok enforcer will achieve and close in on several Test appearance milestones.
The 111-Test Etzebeth, who captained South Africa against New Zealand last weekend despite the death of his father, will move above John Smit to stand fourth among all-time Bok cap-holders if he features against Argentina next Saturday.
Several more Tests this season would increase the likelihood that the 31-year-old beats Victor Matfield’s magical marker (127) next year.
Etzebeth will join the Bok camp in Pretoria on Sunday, to prepare for the Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park, and writing for News24, Houwing suggests the lock doesn’t need rest at present, after his lengthy layoff due to a shoulder injury in April.
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“The Bok camp have already publicly stated that Etzebeth, who has dealt with a family bereavement of late, will be available for the Johannesburg clash, suggesting he will be involved on match day,” he writes.
“Why wouldn’t he be? Especially if they intend keeping him as temporary captain as his friend Siya Kolisi nears his return, the second-row enforcer should feature.
“At very worst, if head coach Jacques Nienaber feels a need to continue experimenting with his lineups, Etzebeth should be among a brawny Bomb Squad of replacements lurking just in case a ‘second team’ of sorts is in trouble against the fickle Argentineans.
“There is little need to rest the staple, senior customer, either: he had an unintended but frankly useful-duration ‘off-season’ while sidelined … If anything, someone like Etzebeth probably now needs as much game time as possible to be in optimal shape for the World Cup.”
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