Rassie Erasmus Delivers Big Eben Etzebeth Verdict After Springboks Return
- Eben Etzebeth’s long-awaited return gave Rassie Erasmus plenty to discuss after the Argentina victory
- The veteran lock was back in the Springboks starting XV for the first time since November
- His performance came as several experienced players made their returns in Buenos Aires
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Rassie Erasmus has given his assessment of Eben Etzebeth’s return to the Springboks after the veteran lock completed the full 80 minutes in their 17-10 victory over Argentina on Saturday, 8 August 2026.
Etzebeth had been sidelined from Test rugby since November but immediately found himself heavily involved against Los Pumas. His return also took his South African record to 142 Test appearances.
SA Rugby Mag reports that Erasmus was particularly impressed by the 34-year-old’s physical contribution.
“Eben Etzebeth going 80. I thought we saw the old Eben again in the game,” Erasmus said. “He was physical, he carried well. He defended well.”
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Rassie Erasmus assesses returning forwards
Lood de Jager also featured after almost a year away from Test rugby. Erasmus felt the lock made an impact early before the demands of the match became apparent.
“Lood de Jager was really physical in the first 25-30 minutes when he was relatively fresh,” Erasmus said.
The coach also praised the returning Canan Moodie and Ethan Hooker, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morné van den Berg gained valuable game time.
Springboks turn attention to All Blacks
Siya Kolisi’s comeback was cut short after 24 minutes because of a hamstring issue. Erasmus said the captain had been “really dynamic” before leaving the field.
With several players now gaining minutes again, the Springboks head towards their upcoming All Blacks Tests with experienced options returning to the squad.
Rassie Erasmus’ heart rate spikes during Argentina thriller
Briefly News previously reported that Rassie Erasmus revealed just how tense the Springboks’ 17-10 victory over Argentina became from inside the coaches’ box. The Bok boss shared a glimpse of his heart rate data after the match.
The revelation came as Erasmus and his team quickly turned their attention to the All Blacks and the upcoming Greatest Rivalry Series, with the first Test scheduled for 22 August.
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Source: Briefly News
