Victor Matfield is probably in a better position than most to pay tribute to Eben Etzebeth ahead of his record equalling Test match in the Springboks away Rugby Championship fixture against Argentina.
Not only will Etzebeth move level with Matfield as the most capped Springbok of all time , but the Springboks No 5 lock also played with Etzebeth and South Africas previous No 4 great Bakkies Botha.
Etzebeth will play his 127th Test match when he comes off the bench against Los Pumas after making his Bok debut in 2012, and will break Matfields record next weekend in the Rugby Championship finale against the same team in Mbombela next Saturday.
Matfield said this week on that he always knew Etzebeth would be star after seeing him dominate from a very young age.
Bakkies had to hand him [Etzebeth] his jersey and Bakkies said something like: I give over for you to be the enforcer now, Matfield said. I thought, Bakkies, hes already the enforcer we need to stand back here, he can take both of us on at the same time!
