Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been cleared to play against New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday after completing all training sessions this week, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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He has been included on the replacements bench for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship match, replacing Marco van Staden.
Etzebeth was originally left out of the match-23 for the first Test due to an injury concern but will now offer specialist lock cover for the starting pair of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ruan Nortje. If he takes the field, this Test will mark Etzebeth’s 125th appearance for the Springboks, moving him past Bryan Habana as the second most-capped Springbok and closer to Victor Matfield’s record of 127 caps.
‘Our selection policy has always been that if a player does not train on a Monday he will not play on Saturday, but Eben has made it through training pain-free all week, so we had to make the tough call to name him in the squad at the expense of Marco,’ Erasmus said.
‘There were back-up options for us at lock in the initial squad, but with Eben on the bench it means we have another specialist in that position in the team.
‘We are blessed to have an expanded squad of about 45 players who have all bought into our plans and who understand what’s best for the team, and it’s admirable how Marco accepted the news. It shows the quality of the player and person he is,’ he added.
In addition, Rassie Erasmus has released four players—Steven Kitshoff (prop), Manie Libbok (flyhalf), Canan Moodie, and Makazole Mapimpi (both wings)—to their provincial teams for the Carling Currie Cup this weekend to gain valuable game time.
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Picture: Anton Geyser / Gallo Images
