Eben Etzebeth officially confirmed rugby genius by ending caterpillar rucks
Eben Etzebeth knows his stuff, and showed he clearly knows the laws of rugby like the back of his hand to hoodwink Harlequins completely on Saturday.
Up against Quins in the Heineken Champions Cup at the Stoop, the Sharks lock showed a rugby IQ that seemed to be higher that the entire Quins team’s combined.
The hosts had possession in their own half with a minute left of the first 40, and had shaped up to box kick into the Sharks’ half. Quins had set up a caterpillar ruck, with England prop Joe Marler at the back of the ruck. However, after the ruck was shunted, Marler suddenly only had a hand on the ruck, rather than a shoulder, which Etzebeth astutely saw.
The Springboks lock snapped up the ball right in front of Danny Care and went in to run in a try from 40 metres out to mean his side only trailed by two points at half time.
This was a genius knowledge of the laws of rugby, as, not only had none of his teammates picked up on Quins’ rucking, but the Quins players themselves (or at least Marler) were not aware of this either. Etzebeth’s stock continues to rise with every game.
Take a look at the try:
🐛🦈 @EbenEtzebeth does not fear caterpillars!
He's disrupted a few in the first half, and now gets his hands on the ball and races to the line.
Incredible poaching from the Springbok 🦌#HeinekenChampionsCup | @SharksRugby pic.twitter.com/ljhuqpOvT8
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 21, 2023
Harlequins Starting XV
1. Joe Marler
2. Jack Walker
3. Wilco Louw
4. Stephan Lewies
5. Irne Herbst
6. Dino Lamb
7. Will Evans
8. Alex Dombrandt ©
9. Danny Care
10. Marcus Smith
11. Josh Bassett
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Joe Marchant
14. Cadan Murley
15. Nick David
Impact Players
16. George Head
17. Fin Baxter
18. Simon Kerrod
19. Tom Lawday
20. Luke Wallace
21. Scott Steele
22. Tommy Allan
23. Oscar Beard
Cell C Sharks
1. Ox Nche
2. Kerron van Vuuren
3. Thomas du Toit
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Gerbrandt Grobler
6. Siya Kolisi (c)
7. Vincent Tshituka
8. Phepsi Buthelezi
9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Thaakir Abrahams
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Lukhanyo Am
14. Marnus Potgieter
15. Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
16. Dan Jooste
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Carlu Sadie
19. Hyron Andrews
20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
21. Grant Williams
22. Lionel Cronje
23. Francois Venter
