Springboks skipper offers reminder

It wasn’t quite a Kane Hamesesque calling out from Eben Etzebeth but it was certainly a polite reminder.

The Springboks stand-in skipper definitely wouldn’t have himself known as a dirty player, anyway.

Just a day after Hames, the twotest prop named to start for the All Blacks at Albany on Saturday night, had a crack at a Kiwi journalist for saying he was ‘‘not a renowned scrummager’’, Etzebeth also took the opportunity to offer some advice to a member of the New Zealand media.

Listed as 2.04m tall and 118kg, the 25-year-old Stormers lock is not afraid to use that imposing frame and is not one to back down when tensions rise.

But when asked at his Friday press conference if he needed to tone down that ‘‘very competitive’’ nature, Etzebeth gave a wry smile and a chuckle before delivering a succinct response.

‘‘It’s funny, I’ve only had one yellow card in 60 tests, so I won’t be in the sin-bin that much.

‘‘Also in Super Rugby, over 50 games and one yellow card, just to comment on that.

‘‘You are even more competitive when you are captain, you actually want the team to do even better, you want to win more.

‘‘The competitive side of me has actually improved a lot. You want to walk off the field as a victorious captain.’’

That last part, of course, will be no different at QBE Stadium.

Forget that they haven’t won on Kiwi soil for eight years and seven tests, forget they’ve lost nine of their last 10 against the All Blacks and, most of all, forget that 57-15 drubbing in Durban last year, a young and rejuvenated Springboks group truly believe.

With form, including a series sweep of France and a pair of impressive wins over Argentina, a perfect preparation and revitalised team environment and mindset, Etzebeth was confident his team was ready for the task at hand.

He was also well aware, though, of the sizeable challenge presented by the world’s No 1 side.

Likely even more so after firstchoice halfback Ross Cronje was forced out of the match on Friday with a stomach bug, handing 43-test veteran Francois Hougaard the No 9 jersey.

Even if the All Blacks are without injured first-choice props Owen Franks and Joe Moody, who have a combined 126 tests, and will have Hames (two tests) and Nepo Laulala (six tests) anchoring their scrum, Etzebeth said they were preparing to be fully tested.

‘‘It’s the same as the Springboks, if you put on an All Blacks jersey you must be very good.

‘‘It won’t be too much of a loss to them. Once you step in to play for your country, you want to do everything to play really well.’’