ETZEBETH TO KEEP GOING FOR S. AFRICA

Captain Kolisi pays tribute to most-capped Springbok after winning Rugby C'ship title

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South Africa captain Siya Kolisi hailed lock Eben Etzebeth after a 48-7 victory over ill-disciplined Argentina clinched the Rugby Championship on Sept 28.

Etzebeth, 32, played the entire 80 minutes in Mbombela as he overtook Victor Matfield to become the most-capped Springbok with 128 caps.

The Springboks scored seven tries, five coming when the Pumas were numerically disadvantaged in the final-round match. It helped them to their first title since 2019.

Flanker Pablo Matera was red-carded in the second half and the Carreras brothers, wing Mateo and fullback Santiago, were sin-binned, one in each half.

Nevertheless, it was sweet revenge for South Africa, after they missed a late penalty to lose a penultimate-round match 29-28 in Argentina on Sept 21.

“I’m so grateful to have been able to walk this journey with you and I’m so grateful for your support,” flanker Kolisi told Etzebeth.

“From the time Rassie (Erasmus) made me captain (in 2018), you have had my back. You are so smart and I am so proud of you.