The South African Rugby community was left heartbroken upon hearing the news of Harry Etzebeth’s passing after a long battle with cancer. Harry was the father of Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth. As the team prepared for their clash against the All Blacks, the decision of whether Eben would participate in the game or return home rested solely in his hands.
Eben’s Decision
Ultimately, Eben chose to honor his father by playing in the match. The team is expected to wear black armbands as a tribute to Harry. Eben’s appearance in this game marks his first match since enduring a shoulder injury three months ago. The announcement of his participation came during the captain’s run at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland on Friday morning. Springboks media manager, Zeena Isaacs, confirmed his decision to play.
All Blacks’ Coach Expresses Condolences
The All Blacks coach, Ian Foster, expressed his condolences to Eben and the entire Etzebeth family before the match. He acknowledged the quality of the Springboks’ players and expressed confidence that they would adapt and adjust. Foster emphasized that, at the moment, their thoughts were with Eben as a person.
Eben Named Team Captain
The Springboks named Eben Etzebeth as the team captain earlier this week, adding another layer of responsibility to an already emotional weekend for him. The Test match between the Springboks and the All Blacks is set to kick off at 9:05 am South African time.
Line-ups
The line-ups for both teams are as follows:
All Blacks: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith; 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot. Subs: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Braydon Ennor, 23 Caleb Clarke.
Springboks: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Duane Vermeulen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.
This game marks the 104th time that the Springboks and All Blacks have faced each other in a head-to-head match. These two iconic teams have a history of fierce competition, and Eben Etzebeth’s courageous decision to play adds another layer of intensity to the encounter. The rugby world will surely be watching as Etzebeth leads his team through this emotionally charged battle on the field.
