By Lucky Vince Pienaar
Besides the obvious advantages of having legendary Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth fit and ready to play on Saturday, he also brings stability and leadership to the team that may be decisive in the second half of the match.
Etzebeth was initially left out of the team due to a knee injury and was not included in the matchday squad, but on Tuesday, at the media briefing, Rassie Erasmus specifically made the point that Eben had attended the team practice on Monday.
It’s a rule in the Bok camp that players who do not attend the Monday session are not included in the team for the match.
Eben, therefore, qualified for inclusion in the team after what is called a “miraculous” recovery.
Whether this is some tactical gamesmanship or not doesn’t matter—he is back. He comes in at the expense of Marco van Staden, who, sadly, loses out on a Springbok cap.
Saturday’s match is the toughest test yet of the new direction in the Springbok style of play, with the South African back three (Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Aphelele Fassi) probably coming up against All Blacks Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett.
But with all due respect to coach Tony Brown, when it really matters, the Springbok forwards will still have to provide the final push (if that’s the right word) when a maul try is required for victory.
The 6-2 split on the bench means this is not exactly a bomb squad, but with Eben Etzebeth waiting to come on, it’s pretty damn close.
Springboks v All Blacks, Emirates Ellis Park, 5pm, Saturday 31 August.
Pictured above: Eben Etzebeth.
Source: Springboks/X
