Springboks: ‘Champion of a man’ Eben Etzebeth ‘really deserves’ to break Victor Matfield’s appearance record
Springboks locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager.
Experienced Springboks second-row Lood de Jager has hailed long-standing team-mate Eben Etzebeth as he inches ever closer to breaking the world champions’ prestigious all-time appearance record.
Victor Matfield is the most capped Springbok in history having represented the four-time world champions in 127 Tests over two spells, the second of which saw the former lock come out of retirement to take part in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Bok enforcer and fellow second-row Etzebeth is currently sitting alongside legendary Bok flyer Bryan Habana as the second-most capped Springbok in history after making his 124th Test appearance in South Africa’s 30-12 victory against Australia in Perth last weekend.
With four matches left during this year’s Rugby Championship, Etzebeth, who made his Test debut against England in 2012, is set to break Matfield’s record if he plays in all four of the Boks’ upcoming Tests against New Zealand – in Johannesburg on August 31 and Cape Town on September 7 – and Argentina – in Santiago on September 21 and Nelspruit on September 28.
And De Jager believes it will be richly deserved when Etzebeth eventually moves ahead of Matfield as the most capped Springbok in history.
‘He doesn’t bring a lot of words’
When asked to comment on Etzebeth’s impact on the Springboks and what he means to the team, De Jager told reporters: “It’s massive. The first thing he brings, he doesn’t bring a lot of words.
“The first thing you look at when you look at Eben is his work ethic off the field, especially how professional he is, how he recovers, how hard he works in the gym.
“For any youngster coming into the group, there’s no better example than Eben that epitomises Bok rugby and what it is to be a Springbok. I really hope he does break the record.
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“He really deserves it. He’s a champion of a man. He’s a great team guy and a great example to youngsters coming through.”
De Jager, who is currently sidelined due to a shoulder injury, made his Test debut against Wales in 2014 and was a rookie in the Springboks’ 2015 Rugby World Cup squad in England, alongside the likes of an experienced Matfield.
After winning back-to-back World Cups in 2019 and 2023, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus recently introduced several new players to his squad, something which De Jager has welcomed as he believes it augurs well for South African rugby.
‘It’s great to see the amount of young talent we have’
“It’s interesting. Well, I haven’t been actually part of it where the young guys have started to come in,” he said. “But it’s great to see the amount of young talent we have. And guys coming in and actually, not just winning, but dominating away from home.
“It’s difficult to do. I know people say Australia may also be in a rebuilding phase. But to go out there and win with a bonus point away from home in Test rugby is difficult.
“And to see the youngsters step in. It’s the only way they’re going to learn.
“Those young guys are so talented. To be in those big situations, play in those big occasions and learn from there. So you have to learn the hard way in rugby.
“That’s unfortunately the way it is.”
