Eben Etzebeth, winning a Springbok record 128th cap, thanked his teammates for an “unbelievable performance” as his team clinched the Castle Lager Rugby Championship with a joyous 48-7 victory over Argentina at a heaving Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday.
“The milestone wouldn’t have been nice if we’d lost this game, so the team really showed up tonight,” said Etzebeth.
“The Rugby Championship was on the line; it was a final tonight, and we all wanted to win that trophy. The guys wanted to make it special for me, but it will always be a team sport, and the trophy was the big thing, and we’ll celebrate it very nicely tonight. It was an unbelievable performance from everyone.”
Etzebeth paid tribute to the team-mates who have shared his Springbok career: “There are guys I have been with at three World Cups, won two World Cups, guys like Siya, Jesse, Handre, Frans, Willie, Damian … I’m leaving a few out, but I wouldn’t have reached this milestone without those players.”
Etzebeth said he remained motivated to continue pushing for selection although he kept private his ultimate career goals.
“It’s about staying fit and pushing the body as far as it can go,” he said.
“I’ve made no secret that the reason I play this game is to play for this team; to perform for my club and to be selected for the national side, that’s the ultimate.
“So, I’ll keep pushing, training hard and performing for my club and hopefully the coaches will keep on selecting me. I never like to share my goals with the public, I like to keep it close to my heart, and I’ll still push on and if the body’s good I’ll continue to go.”
