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The current star Victor Matfield hailed as 'the best Bok of all time'
By Josh Raisey
South Africa's most capped player and 2007 World Cup winner Victor Matfield has named his former teammate Eben Etzebeth as "the best Bok of all time".
Matfield's haul of 127 Springbok caps is likely to be levelled by Etzebeth this weekend when South Africa face Argentina in Santiago del Estero, should the Sharks lock be selected.
The 47-year-old, who played alongside a young Etzebeth in the South African second row in the latter stages of his career, has said that there is not a "better guy" to level and overtake his Springboks record.
The view that Etzebeth is the greatest Springbok of all time is certainly not one that will be exclusively held by Matfield, and Etzebeth will only help his case by bringing home the Rugby Championship over the next two weeks.
South Africa can secure the title this week in Argentina with a victory, meaning head coach Rassie Erasmus could potentially rest and rotate some players for round six against the Pumas in Mbombela in what would potentially be the match Etzebeth overtakes Matfield.
But with the Autumn Nations Series fast approaching, it is only a matter of time before the 32-year-old becomes the most-capped Springbok of all time, and Matfield expects him to earn many more.
“I don’t think there’s a better guy to do it,” South African newspaper Rapport reported.
“Eben will definitely be remembered one day as one of the very best Boks ever, if not the best.
“He has a fantastic career and has already won two World Cups. He was also South Africa’s Player of the Year. He is on his way to 150 Tests. I was privileged to play some of his first Tests with him.
“It’s a privilege for me that the best Bok of all time takes over the record from me and that the record stays with the locks!”
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Latest Comments
Hmm, just the standard things I don't see then. These test matches have shown a return to a very aggressive kicking game for sure, perhaps thats the picture that is driving recent talk. Excluding his SR form/tyle, it's still better than Mo'unga, and more to the point (Jacko!), Beauden's, who repeatedly could not execute a kick pass to save themselves. Mo'unga should have kicked for the line all day in the WC Final, that is not a mistake Damien McKenzie would make.
This is also some of the best general attack, phase upon phase of attacks, that I have seen the ABs produce in years. I give ALL the credit in setting that temp to Dmac. Just last week alone he made a couple of outrageous plays to put his backline away, to put that final piece in the puzzle that had been missing for years. Not that I didn't think Richie wasn't a great strike weapon, he plays like a match winning league five eight and still did enough to win that WC for NZ.
Go to commentsYes! And yes again!
They need the sort of loss that ends a few careers. Big time.
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