In 2015 there was only three tests played in the RC, those being -
* A home test against Argentina;
* the away test against Australia; and
* the home test against the AB's
Return from injury in 2018
When Etzebeth returned from injury in the home test against Argentina he was magnificent as is evident from the stats iro in that game.
Etzebeth
0/0
0
0/4/14
48
0
3
0
0
10/1
7/1
1
0/0
In 2015 in the equivalent game he had the following stats:-
Etzebeth
0/0
0
0/2/1
0
0
0
1
0
7/1
1/1
0
0/0
I was over the moon about the performance of Etzebeth in the test against Argentina in 2018 - ti was a huge improvement in he equivalent test in 2015
Other two equivalent RC tests in 2018
However the question si what happened in the other two comparable tests in 2015 and 2018. The stats was as follows in the away tests and home tests respectively:-
2018
Etzebeth
0/0
0
0/5/18
13
0
0
1
0
9/0
8/1
2
0/0
2015
Etzebeth
1/0
0
0/2/18
34
0
0
0
1
25/0
7/0
0
0/0
These two sets indicate that Etzebeth had a blinder against Argentina after his return from injury - but for the rest there was a drastic decline in his performance level if the above comparisons are borne in mind.
That is a real worrying factor - there were no improvement in his performances in the EOYT when in fact he was playing.
So what went wrong insofar as Etzebeth 2018 performances compared to what he produced in 2015 is borne in mind? I think Etzebeth is a world class lock - but a lot more hard work is expected from him. He should up his game drastically if he wants to retain his reputation.
