‘A special player’ – Eben Etzebeth insists another ‘incredible’ Siya should be hitting the headlines

Springboks great Eben Etzebeth believes that another Siya, Sharks playmaker Siya Masuku, should be getting as much recognition as his more famous namesake.

The 27-year-old has been in stunning form in 2024, taking the fly-half reins in February and helping to improve the Durban outfit’s poor form.

Masuku has produced a series of impressive displays from pivot which have been key in lifting them off the foot of the United Rugby Championship table.

He has also been decisive in the Challenge Cup, starting every knockout clash after missing the pool stages.

Big game performances

The playmaker was especially influential in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, scoring 18 and 22 points against Edinburgh and Clermont Auvergne respectively.

And while Kolisi is the Siya currently on most people’s lips, Etzebeth believes that could well change should Masuku lead them to glory against Gloucester on Friday.

“Yeah, he’s been incredible. I was actually on another podcast the other day and I mentioned Siya and I just said Siya, and I think some of the people thought I was thinking about Siya Kolisi,” he told SuperSport.

“And I corrected them by saying Siya Masuku and I got a lot of laughing faces.

“They were probably thinking I was joking, but hopefully the people will start realising now what a special player he is.

“He puts his body on the line, he’s a warrior, and I mean, that’s what you want in a 10.

“You want a guy who can take you forward, good kicking game, good at goal kicking… he’s not scared, he’s just been incredible.”

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Improvement

The Sharks had a dreadful start to the campaign under returning head coach John Plumtree, but there have been signs of development in 2024.

Plumtree, who was also boss of the Durban outfit between 2008 and 2012, was under pressure following a disastrous opening to the season, but this Challenge Cup run has eased the burden on the 58-year-old.

“When you come into a new environment like the coaches have, it’s not going to change overnight,” Etzebeth said. “You probably need a couple of months for everyone to buy into your plan and I think that is starting to happen.

“Once you start getting victories, you start believing in that plan and hopefully we’re there. Hopefully it will get even better next year because this season hasn’t been great.

“The latter part of the season has been much more successful than the start but with Plum, I think we all like him; he’s a great coach, a great man.”

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