Eben Etzebeth has weighed in on the debate about whether the 2011-2015 All Blacks are better than the current Springboks side.
New Zealand were the first team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups, defending their title in 2015 after ending a 24-year drought four years prior.
South Africa matched that feat in 2023, sparking the debate about who the greatest team of all-time is and Etzebeth has commented on the debate while revealing the Springboks‘ target.
Springboks targetting a third World Cup
The second-rower says that the squad have not discussed the topic but did not shy away from the fact that Rassie Erasmus and his team would not be eyeing an historic World Cup three-peat.
“We don’t talk about it yet, I’m pretty sure on social media and people outside of our group talk about it,” Etzebeth told The Ruck Rugby Podcast.
“We do get asked about it but no it’s actually the people hyping it up and trying to get some reaction out of us.
“Do we think about going three in a row? Yes, I’m sure that is at the back of everyone’s mind. There will be 24 teams at the World Cup and if you ask every one of them ‘Do you want to win the World Cup?’ they will say yes and we are no different.
“So it’s not a big thing that we want to win the World Cup and that’s the main thing and it’s at the back of our minds but we still have to get there and there are many things that have to happen before that.”
Reflecting on 2024
After winning the World Cup in 2023, the Springboks continued their fine form in international rugby, winning 11 of their 13 Tests and clinched the Rugby Championship before defeating Scotland, England and Wales in November.
Reflecting on the year that was, Etzebeth enjoyed a stellar run of form which earned him a nomination for the World Rugby Player of the Year award and looks back on 2024 with pride.
Not only did he and the Springboks excel but he enjoyed a fantastic year on a personal note.
“I do [look back on 2024 with pride], also in my personal life. My wife and I gave 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to our first daughter so that was amazing,” he added.
“Obviously on the rugby side ending the year as world number one and winning trophies like the Freedom Cup which we have never won against New Zealand in my career. So it was great to get that and the Rugby Championship.
“Then also with the Sharks to go all the way in the Challenge Cup – we obviously know it’s not the big one [the Champions Cup] – and we would love to do better in the big one. But for us as a group, where we started the season and go on to win some silverware at the end of it, it was a big victory for us.
“We know the Challenge Cup is not where the big dogs hang out but overall, 2024 was a good year for me on a personal note and in a rugby capacity.”
Etzebeth looks set to feature in the Sharks’ first game of the year against Toulouse after overcoming an injury concern that saw him miss the Investec Champions Cup defeat to Leicester Tigers.
