Springboks rocked after captain Etzebeth’s father dies, ahead of All Blacks clash

AUCKLAND – South Africa captain Eben Etzebeth’s father has died after a battle with cancer, the team confirmed on Thursday, leaving the towering lock doubtful for the Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand.

“Eben’s father has passed,” a team spokesman told Reuters.

With regular skipper Siya Kolisi sidelined with a knee injury, Etzebeth was set to play for the world champions for the first time this season after recovering from injury.

However, South African media reports citing team sources said he would be given time to decide whether he would play against the All Blacks in Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday, less than two months before the World Cup kicks off.

The team declined to confirm his place in the match-day squad.

Coach Jacques Nienaber had earlier welcomed the prospect of Etzebeth returning.

“Eben has been working very hard in the last few months to make a full recovery from his shoulder injury and it’s great to see him return to the field in this important fixture,” he said this week.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster added: “Our thoughts go out to him as a person. It’s tragic news for him. I’m sure they will deal with it in the right way.”

While the saddening news can be destabilising, it is vital the Springboks compartmentalise the loss and focus on the tough test ahead, with scrum-half Faf de Klerk warning his side must be switched on for the full 80 minutes if they are to beat New Zealand in Auckland for the first time since 1937.

Both teams recorded emphatic opening-round wins last Saturday, when the All Blacks thrashed Argentina 41-12 away and South Africa bulldozed Australia 43-12 in Pretoria.

However, South Africa will be wary of their poor record in Auckland, where they suffered a 57-0 drubbing to New Zealand in 2017. That score remains the biggest margin in Tests between the rugby powerhouses.

De Klerk feels the Springboks have since won back respect from New Zealand’s rugby public, especially after a thrilling 36-34 win over the All Blacks in Wellington in 2018, the year before South Africa lifted the World Cup.

“Speaking to the fans over here and other players, I think there is a respect,” he said.

“Look, a few years ago we weren’t up to the standard in the way we played at all. Getting a lot of points put up against you isn’t going to warrant respect. But the way the boys played last week shows there is something about us.”

The scrum half knows his side must be on their game against the All Blacks and a win for either team would put one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy, a perfect tonic ahead of the Sept 8-Oct 28 World Cup in France.

De Klerk said that losing concentration even for a second can mean “you’re probably going to end up behind the posts”.

“If one or two guys just knock off for a moment, that’s when they are going to attack you,” he said.

He is one of the nine players in the starting South African team who sat out the win over Australia to fly to Auckland a week early in preparation.

He said the pressure is on to consolidate last week’s win over the Wallabies by securing a rare victory in Auckland.

“They set the standard and we need to make sure we uphold that or outperform,” he said.

“It’s a squad effort. We have been training together for four weeks now, so we all know what to expect from each other.”

Over in Sydney, Eddie Jones has demanded that Australia “roll up their sleeves” against Argentina on Saturday after their thrashing in his first game in charge.

Jones admitted the Wallabies were outplayed by the world champions and said he expected better against an Argentina side who conceded seven tries to New Zealand in Mendoza last weekend.

“As a squad we’re running a marathon this year, and we didn’t get off the start line like we wanted to, but we get another opportunity to find our rhythm this weekend against a tough Argentinian side,” said the 63-year-old Australian, who also cautioned that it will take time for the Wallabies to find their groove.

“We have two Tests on home soil this year, so we have to roll up our sleeves on Saturday and put in a performance that drives Australians to show pride in the Wallabies...

“That said, we are obviously a new team with new coaching staff, so we are finding out where we are at.” REUTERS, AFP