Etzebeth, who has donned the Springbok jersey in 141 Test matches since his debut in 2012, recalls a particular match against New Zealand which stands out to him. In an appearance on the Boks Unpacked show, he highlighted a pre-World Cup game where the Springboks triumphed 35-7 at Twickenham Stadium as his favourite.
"They obviously got a few over me in the past, some big scores, so that was quite satisfying… They have handed me some embarrassments in the past with big scorelines, so it was nice to give it back to them."
The mentioned match was significant not only because of the victory itself but also due to the strategic decisions made by the coach. Rassie Erasmus opted to field a 'nuke squad', a bench heavily skewed towards forwards, which proved instrumental in transforming a 14-0 lead at halftime into a substantial 28-point victory.
Reflecting on the moment he found out about the tactical shift, Etzebeth shared an amusing anecdote from a conversation with Erasmus. The coach's unexpected strategy for their upcoming game evidently caught Etzebeth off guard, yet left him excited for what was to come.
"I walked past and he was like, 'Are you ready next week?' I was, 'Yes, coach'. He said, 'Good because you are only going to have to play about 45 minutes because we are thinking of going 7/1'. I walked on, walked into the gym and just laughed. I was so happy to hear it."
Etzebeth's anticipation didn't stop at the 7/1 bench strategy. He humorously expressed excitement for an even more unorthodox approach in the future, playing along with the idea of an 8/0 split, highlighting his and his teammates' readiness to adapt and embrace bold strategies.
In the same discussion, when prompted to choose a New Zealand lock to complement the All Blacks dream team, Etzebeth picked Brodie Retallick. He praised Retallick’s accomplishments and hinted at the tough competition he expects in future encounters.
Etzebeth's selection of his top moments and his insights into the tactical nuances of rugby not only highlight his personal experiences but also shed light on the intense rivalry and mutual respect between two of the world's premier rugby nations.
As the Springboks prepare for the upcoming Greatest Rivalry tour, where they will face New Zealand four more times, fans and players alike can look forward to more such thrilling encounters and maybe, just maybe, see whether the 'nuke squad' makes another explosive impact.
