Big Vic: Eben stood up for Boks

Victor Matfield says Bok lock Eben Etzebeth showed against the All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium why he is South Africa’s GOAT.

The world champions levelled the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series with a 33-26 win last Saturday, with their lineout proving a big weapon.

Three attacking throw-ins by the All Blacks were spoiled by Etzebeth, who made one steal. The Boks’ first two tries came from powerful lineout mauls, with Etzebeth winning five lineouts on their own throw in the match.

“At lineout time he was outstanding,” Matfield said on the Rugby Rivals podcast.

“He was also under pressure in South Africa – ‘he hasn’t played a lot, he’s not in great form’ – but he stood out.

“At lineout time he was fantastic. His work rate was just unbelievable, and that’s the Eben we know.

“For me, it was important that our most experienced player, in a week like this where there was a lot of pressure, stood up,” the former Bok lock added.

“He just showed why he’s probably the best Springbok of all time.”

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Matfield, regarded as one of the greatest lineout exponents of all time, also explained how the Boks put pressure on the All Blacks’ throw.

“When you go into playing the Springboks, in the last few years you know they cover up the middle and the back of the lineout.

“We knew in our era, when you play the All Blacks and they get to the 22, just inside the 22, attacking, they almost try and force that ball.

“So the Springboks went for it. I think there’s only one ball and they haven’t thrown it once – it’s in between the two pods, the throw-jump where the hooker throws first and the guy goes straight up.

“All of their stuff was dummies and that gave Eben and Ruan [Nortjé] chances to move. Ruan just covered the back, Eben played around – is he kind of in the middle or a little bit at the back? – and that caught them.

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“If you want that back ball, you need to walk in and you need to hit it immediately. Otherwise, that front ball is on the whole day and [you can] work something out from that front ball. The one try came off the front ball.

“These days the scrumhalf’s pass is so good. If you get good ball in the front, good delivery to nine and he throws it 15, 20m, then you’re in the game.”

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Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images

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