OOD DE JAGER chuckles when asked about Springbok team-mate Eben Etzebeth and the giant lock’s antics in the Champions Cup clash between Harlequins and the Sharks in January. While many expressed their surprise after Etzebeth rounded a ruck, burgled the ball and then raced away to score, de Jager recognised an artist at work.
Etzebeth is better known for his big hits, post-tackle shoves and intense staredowns. For 12 years and 110 Tests, some have subscribed to the idea of Etzebeth as an enforcer and little else.
Those close to him, however, insist that this iceberg runs many fathoms deep. They cite Etzebeth’s influence around the kick chase, his contesting at the front of the lineout, and his linking play in the wider channels as evidence of his growth over the past two seasons.
What’s more, they reveal how the 31-year-old – who has already won a Rugby Championship, a Rugby World Cup and a British & Irish Lions series – is powered by an unshakeable loyalty to his country and team-mates.
There’s a lot more to the big man than meets the eye. Some of his contributions – such as the breakdown smash-and-grab at the Stoop in January and the lightning-quick basketball transfer to Kurt-Lee Arendse in the lead-up to a memorable try in Dublin last November – have been impossible to ignore. Most
