When it comes to commitment, few other South African sportsmen or women can match Springbok key Eben Etzebeth, who, win or lose, “leaves it all in the park” when he dons the green-and-gold.
Unsurprisingly, he has been named South Africa’s Rugby Player of the Year for 2022, the year he plays his 100th Test for his country.
The 31-year-old fought off some stiff competition from Bok colleagues Siya Kolisi, Lukhanyo Am, Frans Malherbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse for the top honour.
Also read: Eben Etzebeth wins SA Rugby Player of the Year award
Etzebeth is often on the field from start to finish, putting on fear tackles, inspiring the engine room of the Bok scrum and showing surprising speed for the mountain man.
Critics overseas have often referred to him as the unassuming face of South African rugby, perhaps because he is reminiscent of the great bakkies of Botha and Victor Matfield of yesteryear. Bottom line: he wants to have this muscle and athleticism.
Etzebeth has made no effort to tone down the reputation of the man, as Aussie Allan Alaalatoa found in Sydney last year, as the big Bok used him as a push-chair in the in-goal area.
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He symbolizes one thing: Bok rugby will never be a push-over.