Eben Etzebeth Approaching Another Huge Milestone Ahead of Springboks Clash Against All Blacks

• Eben Etzebeth will earn his 146th Springbok cap when South Africa faces the All Blacks this Saturday in Baltimore
• The 34-year-old lock is on course to become the first Springbok player ever to reach 150 international Test appearances
• The two-time World Cup winner currently sits fifth on the all-time list of most-capped men's rugby players in the world

Eben Etzebeth is closing in on one of rugby's most remarkable individual milestones, with the Springbok lock poised to become the most-capped player in the history of the sport.

When South Africa takes on New Zealand this Saturday in Baltimore, Etzebeth will extend his own national record to 146 Test caps, cementing his status as the most-capped Springbok of all time. He currently sits fifth on the all-time global list, behind Welsh lock Alun Wyn Jones (170 caps), Australian prop James Slipper (154), New Zealand lock Sam Whitelock (153), and former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw (148).

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**Etzebeth's Path to 150 Caps**

With four matches scheduled on the Springboks' end-of-year tour in November, the 150-cap milestone is within reach before 2025 draws to a close. Etzebeth is expected to be rested for a one-off Test against Australia at the end of September, but should he feature in all four tour fixtures, he could hit the landmark during the Nations Championship finals weekend.

Looking further ahead, if he remains fit through the 2027 Rugby World Cup and plays on for a season or two beyond that, he could eventually surpass Jones's record of 170 caps and retire as the most-capped player in men's Test rugby history.

**Etzebeth Speaks on Return From Injury**

The milestone comes after a frustrating stretch on the sidelines due to injury. Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash, Etzebeth acknowledged the difficulty of the period but said returning to action had reinvigorated him.

"The injuries were a bit frustrating, obviously, because I couldn't get a lot of rugby under my belt, but it's nice to be back," he said. "It was great to play my first Test against Argentina again and get a full 80 minutes, and obviously the last couple of games against New Zealand as well, so I'm just glad to be back on the park and playing rugby."

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On the value of experience within the Springbok squad, Etzebeth was candid about the mindset driving the team's senior players.

"I know we're getting a bit older, but personally it feels like we're working a lot harder than when we were younger," he said. "We understand how fortunate we are to still be here, and I think that's why we're still performing at such a high level and competing with the best in the world."

Now 34 and approaching his 35th birthday, Etzebeth shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to anchor the Springbok lineout and set his sights on history.

Source: Briefly News