By Adnaan Mohamed
Eben Etzebeth believes the Springboks’ unprecedented four-Test series against the All Blacks ranks among the toughest challenges international rugby can offer.
The veteran lock, who has experienced both the highs and lows of South Africa’s rivalry with New Zealand, says the significance of the Baltimore finale extends beyond another Test match.
“I think every Test match against the All Blacks is special,” Etzebeth said.
“Every Test match you put the green and gold jersey on is special and every time we play the All Blacks we know the rivalry and what it means to them as well as to us.”
The Springboks head into the fourth consecutive weekend of Test rugby against New Zealand knowing the result will determine the series.
For Etzebeth, the physical and mental demands of such a schedule make it a unique challenge.
“I think, challenge-wise, this is surely the toughest in rugby: to play New Zealand four times in a row and try to win the series,” he said.
“So, my answer to the question is, it’s not as special as a World Cup win, but it is still harder than a World Cup to win because you play against New Zealand, which, over the years, have been the number-one or number-two team in the world for a long time.”
“This is definitely one of the tougher challenges in rugby.”
Etzebeth’s own return has added another dimension to the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series.
After a lengthy period disrupted by suspension, injury and concussion, the 33-year-old admitted that watching from the sidelines had been difficult.
“It was a bit frustrating, obviously not getting a lot of rugby under my belt,” he said.
“It was nice to be back. It was nice to play the first Test against Argentina again and get a full 80.”
He was particularly frustrated after being forced to withdraw from the England Test during the week.
“It was tough to watch the guys from the side obviously in the mix for that England game and then had to withdraw in the week. But yeah, great to be back.”
The enforced break also gave him an opportunity to work on his game.
“Every year you try to be a better version of yourself and you try to add to your skill set,” Etzebeth said.
“I think the time off gave me that opportunity as well. So yeah, I just trained hard and tried to get back into the mix.”
The Springboks’ response after losing the opening Test has been another key feature of their campaign.
Etzebeth credited both the coaching staff and players for ensuring the team responded under pressure.
“When you don’t have a good game, they’ll tell us,” he said.
“Also the players, I think every time we don’t start well, we pull together.”
He pointed to previous experiences, including the British & Irish Lions series and World Cups, as evidence of the group’s resilience.
“We’ve been in this situation before and yeah, it happened again and we said after the first Test match that we can’t lose another game. So the pressure was on.”
The Baltimore Test also provides rugby with an opportunity to expand its American audience ahead of the 2031 World Cup.
It will be Etzebeth’s first match in the United States.
“With the World Cup coming up in 2031, they’re definitely trying to grow it in America,” he said.
“I think this Test match is definitely a good start, us against the All Blacks here in Baltimore.”
For Etzebeth, there is a simple way to introduce new American supporters to the sport.
“The best way to sell it is to have them come to the stadium and enjoy the experience and see us play, the first and second-best team in the world.”
After three bruising Tests, the rivalry now gets its American stage.
For Etzebeth, that is precisely where rugby’s biggest challenges belong.