Lock Eben Etzebeth made a record 128th Test appearance for South Africa on Saturday against Argentina in a Rugby Championship title decider at Mbombela Stadium.
The 32-year-old forward led his Springbok teammates out before kick-off to sustained, thunderous applause from the capacity 45,000 crowd in the northeastern city.
Etzebeth was accompanied by his wife, Anlia, and baby daughter, in a break with the Springbok tradition of a player running on to the field alone to celebrate a milestone.
He broke the record set by his former second-row partner Victor Matfield, who won 127 caps between 2001 and 2015.
Since winning his first cap in 2012 against England in Durban, Etzebeth has missed only 19 of 146 internationals played by the four-time Rugby World Cup champions.
Before the title-deciding clash with Argentina, he had helped South Africa win 79 matches, with five draws and 43 losses.
Etzebeth has started 119 Tests and played for national coaches Heyneke Meyer, Allister Coetzee, Rassie Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber and Erasmus again.
In the other nine internationals he came off the bench, including last weekend when South Africa were pipped 29-28 by Argentina in the penultimate round of the southern hemisphere championship.
Matfield, now a SuperSport TV analyst, said “he was privileged to play some Tests with Eben when the young forward was beginning his international career.
“It is fantastic that one of the best Springboks ever, if not the best, has broken my record. I do not think there was a better guy to do it.”
Current Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi, also a teammate of Etzebeth at the Durban-based Sharks franchise, said many supporters misunderstood the lock, believing him to be “very serious”.
“He is actually one of the jokers in the team, loosening the mood when there is too much tension. But when it is time to get serious, he takes things very seriously.
Right balance
“What I learnt from him is to get the balance right between rugby and family. Too much of one or the other does not work. Eben has got it just right.
“There are so many memories I have of my times with Eben and the Springboks, but I cannot share them with mics around.”
Springboks captain and flanker Siya Kolisi said another misconception about Etzebeth is that he is just an “enforcer” and leader.
“Eben is also very intelligent and there is so much more to him that just physicality. He also plays a crucial role in ensuring that Springbok values are upheld.”
Erasmus said Etzebeth liked to win.
“We play darts to relax during training camps with the winner getting 200 rand ($11.50/€10.50). Eben phoned recently to remind me I owe him 200 rand.
“This is not to say he is stingy — just that he is competitive. Eben does not like losing, he does not like it when the team is not in the right mindset.”
Meyer gave Cape Town-born Etzebeth his first cap having spotted him in schoolboy and university rugby, and remarking that “he shone like a diamond”.
“Although a superstar now, recognised throughout the rugby world, he remains humble. He speaks to supporters, takes selfies and signs autographs. Eben is truly special.
“Eben is good enough to play 150 Tests. He will go down as one of the best to have played the game, if not the best.”
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