Eben Etzebeth repeatedly treats Nic White like a child in ultimate flex
Whether he wanted to or not, Nic White became infamous across the two matches against the Springboks. The Australia scrum-half already had a reputation of being a ‘classic No9’ going into the Test matches, but his antics in Adelaide took him to another level.
This is of course referring to his dive and feigned injury to get opposite man Faf de Klerk yellow carded after only being lightly grazed on the face in their first encounter. After that match, White seemed to be public enemy number one in South Africa (or maybe joint with Marika Koroibete) and he maybe knew in the rematch that his job was to wind up the Boks as much as possible- or maybe that is any scrum-half’s job.
But Eben Etzebeth was having none of it in a game that was full of niggles and scraps. On multiple occasions the 2.03 metre lock treated White (who stands 28 centimetres shorter than him) with absolute disdain.
On this occasion he just pushes him away after the Wallaby had pushed Siya Kolisi:
Later in the game, White was at it again, although on this occasion Etzebeth just grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of a fight, all while not even looking at him. He basically treats the former Exeter Chiefs man like a child, which is maybe the ultimate flex in rugby.
Of course, Etzebeth is not exactly a peacekeeper on a rugby pitch, as it showed later in the match when he erupted in another scrap. However, this time he was matched with someone a similar size, Australia tighthead Allan Alaalatoa. But for now, he does not seem fazed by backs trying to fight him.
This sums up what has become quite a bitter rivalry in recent years between the two sides, with most of their matches full of venom and aggression.
