‘Bakkies, he’s already the enforcer, we need to stand back here’ – Victor Matfield in heartfelt tribute to ‘unbelievable’ Eben Etzebeth
Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth and the legendary second-row Victor Matfield.
Victor Matfield has eulogised over the brilliance of second-row Eben Etzebeth, who is set to equal his Springboks cap record this weekend.
The 32-year-old has been named on the bench for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against Argentina and will move onto 127 South Africa appearances if he comes onto the field.
That will take Etzebeth level with Matfield, while he could surpass the 2007 Rugby World Cup winner in the reverse fixture a week later in Mbombela.
Matfield played the bulk of his career with one of the great Springbok enforcers, Bakkies Botha, but also had a stint alongside the player that effectively replaced Botha.
‘Never takes a step back’
“It’s a funny story. I think Bakkies was actually also in the squad because Bakkies played, then I came back. Bakkies had to hand him [Etzebeth] his jersey and Bakkies said something like: ‘I give over for you to be the enforcer now,’” he said on Final Whistle Presents Side Entry on SuperSport.
“I thought, ‘Bakkies, he’s already the enforcer we need to stand back here, he can take both of us on at the same time!’
“Just playing with him, in the beginning years, Bakkies Botha was just as athletic. As Bakkies got older, he got bigger, maybe more of an enforcer with the athleticism gone.
“But with Eben, his engine is just still there. If you look at the kick-chases that happen in a game, he’s in the frontline the whole time.
“His tackles around the field, the work rate, it’s just unbelievable. And then when it comes to the physicality, he just never takes a step back.
“I always talk about that British and Irish Lions series when there was so much talk about him and Itoje. At some stage, Itoje was falling trying to buy penalties and Eben was just in his face; within the law but never taking that step back.”
Victor Matfield: It is ‘a privilege that best Bok of all time takes over the record’
World-class
Having one world-class tighthead lock follow another has been absolutely crucial in South Africa’s success, particularly at World Cups.
Botha was part of the 2007 side while Etzebeth helped the Springboks to lift the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019 and 2023.
“I’ve always said it that I was lucky to play with Bakkies. You always want that one guy that when you run onto the field, the other pack know there’s no chance you’re taking on this one guy because he’s always stronger, he will always put you on the back foot,” Matfield said.
“That’s what Eben’s been giving this pack, for the last 10 years now; just giving you that physical ability to put you on the front foot – he will never take a step back – and you want a guy like that in your team.”
