Katlego Sekhu
South African rugby star Eben Etzebeth, 32, made history on Saturday by becoming the most-capped Springbok player of all time, earning his 128th cap in the team’s 48-7 victory over Argentina at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit.
The win secured the Castle Lager Rugby Championship for the Springboks.
“The milestone wouldn’t have felt as good if we’d lost, so the team really stepped up tonight,” said Etzebeth. “The Rugby Championship was on the line, and we all wanted to win that trophy. The guys wanted to make this moment special for me, but rugby is always a team sport. The trophy was the main focus, and we’ll celebrate it properly tonight. It was an unbelievable performance from everyone.”
Etzebeth paid tribute to his teammates, many of whom have been part of his long journey with the Springboks. “There are guys I’ve been to three World Cups with, won two World Cups with—players like Siya, Jesse, Handre, Frans, Willie, Damian… I’m leaving a few out, but I couldn’t have reached this milestone without them.”
Despite his record achievement, Etzebeth remains driven to continue his international career, keeping his long-term goals private. “It’s about staying fit and pushing the body as far as it can go,” he explained. “I’ve always said I play this game to be part of the national team—that’s the ultimate. I’ll keep training hard and performing for my club, hoping the coaches keep selecting me. I prefer to keep my personal goals to myself, but as long as my body holds up, I’ll keep going.”
The Springboks will now enjoy a well-earned break before heading to Jersey—one of the Channel Islands—for a week-long training camp. This will help them acclimatise and focus on their conditioning ahead of their November tour, where they will face Scotland, England, and Wales.
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