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Eben Etzebeth in doubt for All Blacks Test after tragic passing of his father
By Kim Ekin
Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth’s father Harry sadly passed away on Tuesday putting his availability in doubt for Saturday's clash with New Zealand.
It is not yet clear if the Springbok captain will request to return to South Africa or participate in the Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday.
An SA Rugby official told AFP that “Springbok management will leave it up to Eben whether he wants to return home immediately or lead the team on Saturday.
“Our understanding is that Eben is very emotional at the moment as he was extremely close to his father,” he added.
Etzebeth's father had been suffering from cancer.
He was one of nine children and a sportsman in his own right as a successful wrestler and cricket player.
Harry is said to have been battling an illness and was unable to travel hence Eben’s desire to make his 100th appearance in Cape Town.
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Great try by van Poortvliet.
Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
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