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'So smart': Eben Etzebeth's quick thinking stuns Harlequins with crafty runaway try

21 Jan 2023

(Source/Champions Cup)

Sharks lock Eben Etzebeth came up with a cunning piece of play to stun Harlequins at the Stoop stealing the ball from the base of the ruck and streaking 40 metres away untouched to score.

His unique try exploited rules around unbound players at the ruck which saw Harlequins prop Joe Marler detach early with an improper bind.

That meant the ball was live, allowing Etzebeth to stalk around the breakdown and pinch the ball out of the scrumhalf Danny Care’s hands.

Harlequins were setting up a box kick at the time and were left confused by the play, not reacting in time to be able to chase down the Springbok lock.

A counter-ruck push by a Sharks forward was the catalyst for Marler’s bind becoming unbound, with Etzebeth timing his poach perfectly.

Brilliantly smart play from Eben Etzebeth; he was going to get this spot on at some stage and has here! #HARvSHA pic.twitter.com/LJNW4usZ6W
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) January 21, 2023

Etzebeth’s quick thinking highlighted the dangers of caterpillar rucking if officials are going to enforce the binding rules properly.

Early in the second half a similar situation unfolded as Harlequins set up to exit via a box kick, but this time Marler made sure his bind was correct.

Marler learnt his lesson from the 1st half!!! ??? #HARvSHA – even Etzebeth is laughing. pic.twitter.com/X3AeYm5S1s
— Brett Igoe (@brettruganalyst) January 21, 2023

Former England flyhalf Andy Goode heaped praise on Etzebeth and explained why the try stood after a review.

So smart from Etzebeth, Marler clearly wasn’t bound as his shoulder came away from the backside of the player in front so the ball was out, decent wheels to finish too! @ChampionsCup #HARvSHA
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) January 21, 2023

Etzebeth was widely praised by fans on Twitter for exposing the caterpillar ruck while England’s experienced Test duo Care and Marler were criticised for their lack of accuracy and effort on the play.

Well Danny Care may be playing his 350th game but he clearly does not learn from his mistakes!
Earlier Eben Etzebeth robbed Care of the ball at the base but knocked on.
This time he picks up cleanly & races away to score. The key is Care is not bound & had his hands on the ball
— Ken Borland (@KenBorland) January 21, 2023

Austin Healey is gonna blow a gasket. Tbf, teams would be raging if that was given against them. As a fan, It's good to see the caterpillar ruck attacked by defending team. I don't understand why didn't Care play the ref & tackle Etzebeth rather than let him score. #HARvSHA
— Tadhg O'Ferrall (@tadhgof) January 21, 2023

I am SO GLAD that try stood. Finally a referee who understands that the player needs to stay fully bound to the ruck. Great work Etzebeth.
— Justin Vorster (@JustVorster) January 21, 2023

Lazy binding from Marler & then Care whinges to ref instead of making a tackle. Poor from two experienced players, while brilliant awareness and knowledge of the law from Etzebeth. https://t.co/j2uNXr7Crq
— Timmy Hancox (@TimmyHancox) January 21, 2023

That was one of the smartest scores I've ever seen by Etzebeth. His teammate engages the ruck to pull Quins players forward but Marler doesn't go with. He loses his bind and Eben swoops. SMART.
— Riaan Louw (@Ringo26) January 21, 2023

The Harlequins outscored the Sharks by five tries to four in the end to secure a spot in the Round of 16 with a 39-29 win.

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LE 4 minutes ago

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I thought you were very unlucky not to get player of the match against Italy it was an excellent performance where you were involved in all the good things England were doing. Didn’t realise you had taken on the lineout calls but that only adds to my opinion that you should have been PotM.

Keep up the good work Rosie

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J Marc 6 minutes ago

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Average is a kind understatement….

But if Farrell father is seeking for a player who will not be tired in july, it's the good choice…

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J Marc 9 minutes ago

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Courtney Lawes is doing a good job for Brive, but yes it's ProD2.

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BC 16 minutes ago

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It’s fascinating how all 6N teams think they are really improving. It is making for some great matches. Barattin has been a great servant and role model through thick and thin during her career.

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BC 23 minutes ago

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Yes, I’ve read those plaudits too and along with many others who have also commented on various sites cannot understand it. She played ok but seems to have become the darling of the media perhaps because she is a good player who would be picked in most teams but is down the pecking order for the Red Roses. Sing would be much easier to shut down than EK due to her lesser speed. My understudy for EK is Helena Rowland, very talented and as quick as Dow, and after that Dow herself. Perhaps though Rowland will have nailed down another starting position by RWC. She can play 12, 13 and 15 with equal aplomb and would do so at 10 given a run of matches. I cannot see the logic for breaking up the best back 3 in the world to accommodate a good kicker but lesser all round player. I can understand having to make a tough choice between MacDonald and Breach but EK’s potency would be much reduced if put out on the wing. Still we are all entitled to our opinion and we can agree to differ. I just want the very best as I see it for the Red Roses and although Sing wouldn’t let them down there are better options. I have faith in Mitchell now (after being a sceptic) to make the right calls.

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MS 36 minutes ago

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I can understand negotiations for Kinghorn, White, and Ribbans. All three are playing very, very well at the current time. Kinghorn has been a leading contended for some time now; Ribbans looks as powerful as he’s ever been; while on the evidence of the most recent Six Nations, White benches behind JGP at Scrumhalf.

However, noone in their right mind should be considering Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, nor Owen Farrell. Sinckler looks unfit and can barely move around the field with any great urgency. He would be a liability on tour to Australia. Lawes is clearly ‘enjoying life’ in ProD2, and his rugby looks every bit second tier level now.

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CV 40 minutes ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Football always had ‘detached’ leagues. So do most other sports. Unions or federations never dictated who plays and how often like in NZ. Would be unheard of. You need independent clubs that really compete with each other in NZ but that would never happen because NZR would have to relinquish control over players. Rugby’s model is an exception in professional sport, not the rule.

SA in the 6N? Never. Most want promotion/relegation to the REC and many want to keep it as it is. Much better for the game here when countries can finally get into the 6N. It will lead to more investment in REC nations because they can finally get ahead. Tier 1 nations do very little to grow the game outside their countries.

SA should grow the game in Africa. Plenty of potential there.

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Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Touring NZ is a golden opportunity for every one of the French players that take the field to nail themselves into the squad. What better opportunity is there than to stand out for all the right reasons than a Test match in NZ? Any that manage to achieve that will only enhance the pool of talent available for ‘27.

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Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

NZR knew exactly when the Top14 final was when they signed the tour contract.

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CN 2 hours ago

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Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Partially correct. NZ needs to get on with being the lead in developing the Pacific 6N and monetising Japan - and developing their competitiveness. That will enable all the financial support you mention.

As for France, it’s not about “caring”, it’s about money and the club owners provide their money to drive their club agenda. Period. French rugby is a beast and your JIFF point is well made but SA is a beast also that’s now awake and England is a sleeping beast that is financially stricken. SA will make up a 7N and that will drive all 3 to new levels. The Irish, Scottish and welsh clubs are all union owned and will continue to struggle keeping up but the 7N revenue boost will help, as the SA involvement in the URC is doing currently.

EPL is entirely different, football has followed its own path in allowing the league to detach and is an extreme example of what happens when the clubs are allowed to call the shots across the board. Not a path that rugby will follow fortunately.

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CN 2 hours ago

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I’m not sure many agree with you on this one, Rugby Pass made her their player of the match last week and the comments on the BBC website, although mixed, were lauding her attributes. Her running lines are really good and incisive, very good passing range and her defence is better than ok. I do like her as an option and she would probably go to the RWC as a specialist FB and understudy. EK struggled against Canada at WXV because they doubled up on her every time and took away her space, why not give teams something different to defend?

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DH 2 hours ago

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Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Started well but wobbled when you mentioned Irish club money (it’s all union owned with state help) and lost it completely talking about offshore accounts.

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Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

No I don’t. Point me to any discontent from the French about this? Sure the players have understandably said they’d love to go but that’s the sum total of it on the NH side. Everyone understands the decision making dynamic and the factors driving it. As you’ve already conceded above, NZR were also aware of exactly what was coming.

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BC 2 hours ago

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Interesting comment from Pauline Bourdon that France would have lost that match at WXV1. Does that mean that France have recovered their mojo and are once again potential worldbeaters?

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Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Cooperation would be an interesting description of that relationship, the power sits with the money and that’s the club owners.