Etzebeth eyes toppling All Blacks
Stand-in captain Springbok Eben Etzebeth is setting his sights on usurping the All Blacks at the top of the World Rugby rankings. It is a bold statement from Etzebeth who certainly doesn’t lack in selfconfidence and has done an admirable job since coming in for the injured Whiteley. The Boks have won their last five games including three against France in a June home Test series and two against Argentina in the Rugby Championship (home and away). They next face Australia in Round three of the Rugby Championship in Perth on September 9 before travelling to face the All Blacks in Albany the following weekend. And Etzebeth has admitted that the next phase will be the toughest test of 2017 thus far. He is happy that the Boks have risen from seventh place to third in the space of five games but is not resting on his laurels and wants to soar all the way to the top above traditional rivals New Zealand (which won’t be an easy feat by any stretch of the imagination).
“There will be a step up required (from the first five matches of the season) but luckily we play against them in Super Rugby so we know what they do,” Etzebeth told Supersport.
“There will obviously be a few differences (with the national teams) but we know what to expect against them.
And when asked what he thought was the key ingredient to the Boks’ recent resurgence and success, he pointed to the Boks having had more time to prepare – players and management alike.
“I think it comes down to us having more time to prepare.
“The coach had more time this year to get his management team together and we have had more time to prepare and get organised,” said Etzebeth.
“It is great that we have risen to three in the world rankings.
“From seven to three in the space of five games is pretty good. But we are not where we want to be.
“Everyone knows where the Boks want to be, and we have two spaces more to jump up. We are looking to climb that ladder two more spots.”
Planet Rugby was when he was named in the starting team for the second Bledisloe Cup encounter against New Zealand in Dunedin last weekend.He has earned 114 Super Rugby caps in his career since graduating from the Australian Schoolboys team of 2006 and the Australian U20s side in 2008.Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson said Simmons not only adds experience to the pack, but has a driving ambition to succeed.
“What stood out was that even with 73 Test caps to his credit, Rob is still hungry to play at the highest possible level and his determination to get there will drive our whole pack forward,” he said.
“Our younger locks like Ryan McCauley and Tom Staniforth will benefit from having Rob working with them and teaching them from his years of experience as a Test player. “We’re still a young team and what Rob will bring is that edge that comes from his 100 plus Super Rugby caps and his vast Test experience.
“Rob adds a great dimension to our lineout and a real strength in our scrums.” Simmons will start training with the Waratahs at the completion of his Test commitments. wins.
The victory moved Wellington nine points clear at the top of the Championship table. Young Wellington hooker Asafo Aumua turned in another standout performance, scoring a try and led the attacking stats with nine defenders beaten and 81 metres made. Wellington opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Malo Tuitama got on the end of an overlap to score a simple try.
The visitors extended the lead six minutes before the break when Brad Shields took a quick tap penalty and recycled the ball to Isaia Walker-Leawere who forced his way over to make it 12-0 halftime lead.
The Steamers finally got on the board with a Mike Delany penalty eight minutes into the second half but Wellington continued to control the game when Ben Lam chased down a Jackson Garden-Bachop chip into the corner for a try.
Bay of Plenty offered some slim hopes of a comeback when Terrence Hepetema scored in the 63rd minute with a Delany conversion closing the gap to 17-10.
However Wellington dominated the closing stages of the match with Wes Goosen and Aumua both scoring to guarantee a bonus point victory.
Wellington will look for four straight wins when they host Hawke’s Bay on Wednesday while the Steamers look to bounce back in Palmerston North next Friday.
New Zealand Herald