Worrying times for Boks as Eben Etzebeth’s assist has gone to his head
Fresh from his assist for Kurt-Lee Arendse against Ireland, it looks as though South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth is beginning his transition to fly-half.
It was quite an assist late in the game to be fair, as the 120kg enforcer drew three Irish tacklers before offloading to his winger.
🙌 Etzebeth 🤝 Arendse to set up a thrilling end to this match#AutumnNationsSeries | #IREvRSA pic.twitter.com/LZJDXqEsQK
— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) November 5, 2022
But it looks as though that has gone to his head, as footage has emerged this week of the Boks training in Toulon with the lock practicing his back of the hand passes. Passing is not the Bok way, and someone will have to tell him.
What might be more useful for the Boks is if Etzebeth started practicing his kicking rather than his passing. Anyone who can get the ball anywhere near the posts off the tee would probably be in contention to kick for the Boks against France this weekend given their kicking display against Ireland.
Take a look at Etzebeth in training:
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Springbok team to face France in Marseille:
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 80 caps, 65 pts (13t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon) – 21 caps, 53 pts (10t, 1p)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 57 caps, 60 pts (12t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 67 caps, 45 pts (9t)
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 15 pts (3t)
10 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 24 caps, 22 pts (1t, 4c, 3p)
9 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 43 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 19 caps, 5 pts (1t)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 65 caps, 15 pts (3t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 72 caps, 40 pts (8t)
5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 60 caps, 15 pts (3t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 107 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 55 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 53 caps, 55 pts (11t)
1 – Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) – 16 caps, 0 pts
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 56 caps, 65 pts (13t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 68 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (unattached) – 39 caps, 0 pts
19 – Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 0 pts
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 28 caps, 15 pts (3t)
21 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 22 caps, 40 pts (8t)
22 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – uncapped
23 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 34 caps, 110 pts (22t)
