On Saturday the Springboks celebrated winning the Rugby Championship in style, with a resounding win over Argentina also serving as the perfect tribute to Eben Etzebeth as he earned a record 128th cap.
There is every chance that Etzebeth will go on to reach as 150 caps (or more) before he hangs up his boots, but there are also many other players in this special Springbok group who are on the verge of memorable milestones.
The next in line to reach a century of caps is double World Cup winner Willie le Roux, who currently sits on 97 Test caps.
This year, Le Roux has shifted into more of a mentorship role, but there is no doubt that the Springboks have a plan to see him reach his 100-cap milestone.
The Springboks have three more Tests in 2024, and it’s unlikely that Le Roux will play all of them, meaning he will likely have to wait until the mid-year Tests in 2025 to hopefully celebrate his milestone on home turf – injuries and form permitting of course.
However, Rassie Erasmus has already made it clear that this is very much part of their planning.
“Look, we want to get him to his 100th game,” the Springbok coach told media earlier this season.
“I think he can play another two years, I don’t think he will make another World Cup. If he makes another World Cup, it will be like Stephen Donald [for New Zealand in 2011]. But his role in the team now is to help youngsters. And when he plays, to help us win.
“He helps the guys to understand ‘how big the Test match is. How are we going to handle this? How are you going to read that flyhalf? When do you have to cover what space? He’s at a time in his career when he excepts what his role is in the team,” Erasmus added.
LOTS TO CELEBRATE FOR THE SPRINGBOKS
A crowd of 43 578 celebrated as the Springboks scored seven tries to claim the southern hemisphere crown for the first time since 2019 on Saturday, while Etzebeth was able to enjoy the fruits of his labour.
“The milestone wouldn’t have been nice if we’d lost this game, so the team really showed up tonight,” said Etzebeth.
“The Rugby Championship was on the line; it was a final tonight, and we all wanted to win that trophy. The guys wanted to make it special for me, but it will always be a team sport, and the trophy was the big thing, and we’ll celebrate it very nicely tonight. It was an unbelievable performance from everyone.”
Etzebeth paid tribute to the team-mates who have shared his Springbok career: “There are guys I have been with at three World Cups, won two World Cups, guys like Siya, Jesse, Handre, Frans, Willie, Damian … I’m leaving a few out, but I wouldn’t have reached this milestone without those players.”
Etzebeth said he remained motivated to continue pushing for selection although he kept private his ultimate career goals.
“It’s about staying fit and pushing the body as far as it can go,” he said.
“I’ve made no secret that the reason I play this game is to play for this team; to perform for my club and to be selected for the national side – that’s the ultimate.
“So, I’ll keep pushing, training hard and performing for my club and hopefully the coaches will keep on selecting me. I never like to share my goals with the public – I like to keep it close to my heart – and I’ll still push on and if the body’s good I’ll continue to go.”
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