Eben Etzebeth is unquestionably the best Bok of 2023, according to SARugbymag.co.za readers.
Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Damian Willemse and Frans Malherbe were shortlisted for the 2023 SA Rugby Player of the Year Award on Tuesday, and readers were asked to vote for the most valuable Bok of 2023.
More than half of polled readers opted for Etzebeth (53%), with Du Toit (24%) coming in second ahead of Malherbe (11%), Willemse (6%) and Kolisi (6%).
๐ฃ๏ธ “Eben led from the front! We speak about Springbok physicality, this is it!”
Shimmi was impressed with Etzebeth’s performance against Argentina this weekend ๐ช
๐ป Watch the latest episode of The Final Whistle on Catch Up pic.twitter.com/vJCOjk92n3
โ SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 1, 2023
Etzebeth, who won the 2022 SA Rugby POTY Award, enjoyed another sterling season that culminated in the Boks becoming back-to-back world champions in France.
Poll: Where should RG Snyman jump to?
๐โ๐: ๐ฟ๐ฆ Eben Etzebeth gets the 4th try for the Springboks!
๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐
๐จ LIVE
๐บ SABC 2
๐ฑ SABC +
๐ https://t.co/hibb8lgo8P
๐ป SABC Radio Stations#SABCSportRugby #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/ihpIQuWu2eโ SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) October 15, 2023
The Sharks lock was also nominated for World Rugby’s Player of the Year award, but lost out to All Black Ardie Savea, and was the Boks’ only representative in World Rugby’s dream team.
HOSPITAL PASS: ETZEBETH HIT
Retallick sent Richie Mo’unga’s ribs out to dry ๐ #NZLvRSA #RWCFinal #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/ROv720FdsYโ Sardieq (@SardieqWP) October 29, 2023
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images