Eben Etzebeth’s return to the Sharks has been halted by a several ‘little niggles’. | BackpagePix
The physical toll of Test rugby has finally caught up with Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth, if coach John Plumtree is to be believed.
Etzebeth was not considered for selection yesterday by the Sharks mentor for tomorrow’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Stormers at Kings Park (5pm kick-off), after returning from national duty on the UK tour.
Eben Etzebeth will not feature for the Hollywoodbets Sharks in their #VURC coastal derby this weekend 🤕 pic.twitter.com/LQmCuuJzXZ
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) November 28, 2024
Etzebeth, who became SA’s most-capped player earlier this year and completed the international season with 130 Tests under his belt, departed the field in the Bok victory over Wales last weekend in noticeable discomfort.
The 32-year-old only played 29 minutes in that 45-12 win.
Yesterday, while discussing his match-day selection for the weekend, Plumtree admitted concern regarding the current fitness of the veteran lock.
“We’re trying to get Eben right,” he said.
“The medical team brought Eben in, but his body’s just a bit broken after the tour. He has got lots of little niggles and he pulled out (yesterday).
“I wasn’t happy with him playing. He looks a bit dented, to be honest. We need to freshen him up.”
Etzebeth has certainly had a demanding 12 months.
He was selected to play against Scotland, England and Wales recently, and before that, he only missed the one-off Test against Portugal.
He played in the other nine matches, which included taxing encounters against Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.
Last year, he was one of the stalwarts of the Boks’ bruising World Cup defence in France.
In-between, he also played at least 15 games for the Sharks in the URC and EPCR Challenge Cup – leading the union to the title in the latter.
It was not made immediately clear when Etzebeth would return to action, but after the Stormers match, the Durbanites have two Champions Cup games against Exeter Chiefs and Leicester Tigers home and away, respectively.
They will then close out the year against the Bulls at the Shark Tank and the Stormers in Cape Town at the end of next month in the URC.