Wearing a bucket hat and a pair of flip-flops as he looks out over St. Brelade Bay on the island of Jersey, Eben Etzebeth is so relaxed he’s practically horizontal. It’s a difficult image to reconcile with the reputation of the most capped Springboks of all time: for more than a decade, Etzebeth was the enforcer of the toughest team in the world, a team made up of ‘a single man, brutal, equal to his colossal team. contributions of remarkable coherence.
It’s not quite a Jekyll and Hyde transformation when he crosses the white line but the contrast is striking. “In preparation, it’s when the personality changes a little,” Etzebeth explains to The Independent. “When we train on the field, we don’t have time to relax. I am a firm believer that how you train is how you play on the weekend. On the pitch, my state of mind changes.
The mighty Etzebeth stands out even among the Springboks’ collection of megafauna. This is partly due to his 6ft 8in stature, but also his sense of permanence within this South African setup. Where others alternate with relative regularity, it is quite rare to find a team without the 33-year-old.
Uncompromising and relentless, Etzebeth’s intelligence is perhaps underestimated. He is a key part of a leadership group helping to fine-tune some of head coach Rassie Erasmus’ wildest ideas, while his game-changing intervention on his own try line in the Cup quarter-final Last year’s World Cup against France was the kind of high IQ. play that few locks are capable of.
He also knows where to draw the line in the heat of the moment, his disciplinary record showing him to be neither a thug nor a thoughtless player. “You can’t be reckless like you could be 20 or 30 years ago,” he jokes with a mischievous smile, before explaining how hard he works to stay within the bounds of the law.
“It’s difficult sometimes. You are expected to know the laws and what you can and cannot do. I always try to respect the laws in case of a fight. When tempers get heated, you shouldn’t go too far. When the game takes place, you must master your tackling and clearing technique. It will always be up to the player to benefit from these extras and ensure you don’t cost your team a yellow or red card.
This team-oriented attitude exudes from Etzebeth. While others might have craved the attention that accompanied his passing of Victor Matfield’s Springbok cap record, the lock was reluctant to speak to the media about a milestone. Even now he wants to avoid the subject.
“I try not to think about it too much – which is hard because people keep reminding me!” There are so many things I can still push my body to represent this country. Rugby is a very important team sport. I don’t like talking about a certain individual or myself. I just want to put my head down and keep working. The main thing for me will always be between these white lines.
“Definitely, the older I get, the more I go down headlong. When you’re young, you’re not as used to the lights and the fame, so you look around and say “wow.” But we quickly realize that we must continue to work hard. As soon as you think you’ve arrived, that’s when you might be found out a little.
Etzebeth remains coy about his goals for the future, but a fourth World Cup seems within reach for a player still at the top of his game. The taste of victory in the tournament was all the sweeter in Paris last year as he shared the triumph with his wife Anlia van Rensburg, a singer and actress who delivered a memorable rendition of the South American anthem. African before her husband’s 100th selection.
Cap 130 arrives at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham this weekend, with Etzebeth preparing for another clash with Maro Itoje. When The Independent Speaking recently to the England second row, he avoided talking about any individual duels, and his South African rival is doing the same.
“We come up against a lot of big obstacles in world rugby. It’s never really a one-on-one battle.
But then comes an intriguing confession. “If there was a lock I would like to play with one day, it would be Maro. I continue to prepare to play against him and wonder what he is thinking; it would be nice to play on the same team for a change. We compete hard on the pitch, but off the pitch there is this respect.
After taking over as captain last week against Scotland, Etzebeth hands over the duties to his best friend Siya Kolisi as the flanker returns to the starting team. The couple’s friendship dates back 15 years, with both men sharing their successes and providing support in times of stress or tension.
“When he was 19, he decided to come to the Western Province where I was,” Etzebeth says of the origins of their close bond. “From the first week, we just enjoyed each other’s company, and it never stopped.
“We are roommates, we have been friends for 15 years. He’s like a brother. When things are good or bad with him, I feel it; when things are bad for me, he feels it. We celebrate and cry together. That’s almost what happens when you’re brothers. My family loves him – he’s always welcome at my house for Christmas or otherwise.
“The Springboks are the most special group I have ever been a part of. It’s an easy answer to give. Individuals come and go, but there is a core group that has stayed together for the last six or seven years. They are like my brothers. We really get to know each other and take care of each other.