Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth says facing the No 1 ranked team in the world will be a "great test" for them when they take on Ireland in the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour clash at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Eben Etzebeth let his stoic guard down as he grinned after celebrating his 100th Test for the Springboks with a series victory over Wales on his old stomping ground in Cape Town on Saturday.
Eben Etzebeth is set to become the seventh – and youngest – Springbok to win 100 Test caps when he returns to Cape Town for the series decider against Wales.
Bakkies Botha and Eben Etzebeth have locked horns in the media this week, prompting questions over which of the legendary Springbok hard men is the ultimate enforcer.
Bakkies Botha believes that Eben Etzebeth is the “best lock in the world” but the legendary Springbok enforcer is disappointed that his successor hasn’t lived up to his reputation while on duty at Toulon.
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is set for another spell on the sidelines after suffering a calf injury ahead of Toulon’s Top 14 match against Perpignan.
The Sharks have confirmed that Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will be joining them after he was granted an early exit from his contract with Toulon.
Toulon have confirmed Eben Etzebeth has been granted an early exit from his contract and the Springbok lock is believed to be in the final stages of agreeing to terms with the Sharks.
Eben Etzebeth is set to make his long-awaited return to the field in what would be a significant boost for last-place Toulon as they prepare to face Top 14 rivals Bordeaux on Saturday.
Toulon president Bernard Lemaître has labelled Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth as a “handicap” to the club as he is “expensive, is regularly injured and is often away on Test duty”.