Eben Etzebeth said he wants to carry on playing after eclipsing the great Victor Matfield as South Africa's all-time caps record-holder and helping the Springboks win a first Rugby Championship since 2019.
Lock Etzebeth, 32, became the most capped Springbok in his 128th Test on Saturday as South Africa dominated Argentina 48-7 at Mbombela Stadium in the Mpumalanga province to claim a first title in five years ahead of New Zealand.
in a typical Etzebeth performance, the forward played all 80-odd minutes, carried seven times, made 10 tackles – second only to fellow lock Ruan Nortje – caught a couple of throw-ins and conceded a penalty.
After receiving a special tasseled cap to mark his milestone from Matfield, with whom he went to the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Etzebeth said: "The milestone wouldn't have been nice if we'd lost this game. The team really showed up.
“The guys wanted to make it special for me, but it will always be a team sport, and the trophy was the big thing, and we'll celebrate it very nicely tonight. It was an unbelievable performance from everyone.”
Etzebeth debuted in mid-2012 against England at age 20. He was the fastest Bok to 50 Tests and the youngest Bok to 100. The Bok enforcer doesn't turn 33 for another month. He appeared in all six Rugby Championship rounds as South Africa won five of their matches to finish eight points ahead of the All Blacks.
"I've made no secret that the reason I play this game is to play for this team; to perform for my [Sharks] club and to be selected for the national side – that's the ultimate," said the two-time World Cup winner.
“So I'll keep pushing, training hard and performing for my club and hopefully the coaches will keep on selecting me. I never like to share my goals with the public – I like to keep it close to my heart – and I'll still push on, and if the body's good I'll continue to go.”
That was sweet news to Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, with whom Etzebeth goes way back and played alongside as the Springboks won the last two World Cups.
“We have been together since we were 18 and you've been a true friend and you have led us in so many ways the way you play the game,” Kolisi said.
“I am so proud of you and pleased to be your friend. I can't wait to tell my grandkids I played with Eben Etzebeth. Cheers, my friend, I love you.”
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 6
08.00-15.00 Technical scrutineering
15.00-17.00 Extra free practice
Friday, December 7
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 1
15.30 BRM F1 qualifying
Saturday, December 8
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 2
15.30 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Captain Marvel
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn
4/5 stars
