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The Springboks prediction Bryan Habana has made about Eben Etzebeth
By Liam Heagney
Legendary Springboks winger Bryan Habana has made a record-breaking prediction about the Test-level career of Eben Etzebeth, his fellow South African. It was Tuesday when Rassie Erasmus unveiled a much-rotated Rugby Championship XV, making 10 changes for this Saturday’s second-round encounter with Australia in Perth.
Among the alterations was naming Etzebeth, a second row starter last Saturday in his country’s 33-7 win over the Wallabies in Brisbane, on the bench as part of a reconfigured bomb squad with just five forwards and not the now-traditional six.
Despite only being selected as a replacement, the upcoming match at Optus Stadium will be a milestone occasion for Etzebeth, the 32-year-old first capped by the Springboks in 2012.
Etzebeth’s likely run off the bench will be his 124th cap for his country, drawing him level with Habana as South Africa’s second-most-capped player of all time, just three appearances behind the record holder Victor Matfield, who played 127 times.
After spotting a message on X highlighting that Etzebeth will equal Habana’s 124 caps tally, the retired 41-year-old, who last played for South Africa in 2016, commented: “And he will go on to be the 1st Bok to 150 Tests as well…”
If Etzebeth does make good Habana’s 150 prediction, it would make him the third most capped Test rugby player of all time, trailing only the 170-capped Alun Wyn Jones of Wales and the British and Irish Lions and Sam Whitelock, who called it quits after 153 appearances for the All Blacks.
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Latest Comments
Nah hes a journeyman. Right call
Go to commentsAgreed for the most part. And perhaps Dmac needed a period were he is the 'Hobson's choice' too.
Yes and no, they main concern I had from the situation is Razor didn't really explain why they had developed differing opinions, had he? I've seen too many things happen in life to jump the gun. Fall all we know it was a locked in choice before they found the difference last year and played out this year to see if they were recoverable. I can certainly see where it would be a valid criticism to suggest he spent too much time reviewing his players tripping overseas and not enough work with his team at that time. But things like Tony Brown not even being contacted in the lead up to the naming of the squad are endemic in the union, and for much just as much blame should be laid on someone like Wayne Smith. Some like Mitch would have been aval at the same time too I'd think.
Ultimately I see MacDs time at the Blues much as I saw Ian Fosters time at the Chiefs. Heavily overshadowed by their successors but you could find something good in there if you wanted. Same here. This will play out.
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