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'The bone actually came through the skin...': Etzebeth on the gruesome injury that gave Springboks fans a recent fright

By Liam Heagney

20 Apr 2021

(Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Eben Etzebeth has revealed details of the sobering broken finger accident that currently has him sidelined at Toulon and left Springboks fans on tenterhooks until they learned the South African talisman will be back in action in plenty of time for the Test series versus the touring British and Irish Lions.

Lock hasn’t been the safest of positions lately for Springboks players, the injury to Etzebeth coming after respective setbacks at Sale and Munster for Lood de Jager and RG Snyman.

The injury prompted initial fears that Etzebeth might be in a race against time to be ready for the July resumption of Test matches that will see the Springboks in action for the first time since they won the World Cup final in November 2019.

Kurtley Beale guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload with Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson

However, the 29-year-old has reassured listeners on the latest edition of The Rugby Pod that he will be ready to play again next month for Toulon – although the gruesome description of the injury made show co-hosts Andy Goode and Jim Hamilton wince.

“Almost two weeks ago in training, I broke my finger,” said Etzebeth at the start of his revealing interview. “Quite a weird accident. I will probably be playing three, four weeks again. Like with rugby, any injury is sometimes a blessing so the body gets a bit of a rest. There is still a big year ahead, otherwise all good in France. Missing the family back home with Covid rules otherwise it is good.”

Tick that one off the bucket list @jimhamilton4

Great to have @Springboks legend @EbenEtzebeth on the Pod today to chat Rassie, Lions, weights and enforcers ??

Spotify – https://t.co/D6KNzYJvNY pic.twitter.com/Dwz9SATV5u

— The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) April 20, 2021

Explaining how the injury happened, he added: “I just came on a line off 9. There wasn’t even contact. The ball and the guy it was almost like shadow. It was shadow rugby and ball and the guy in front came at the same time. I almost tried to catch the ball with one hand and stop the guy in front with the other and somehow my finger got caught. The bone actually came through the skin… so I saw it and I was like oops and I ran to the physio’s room and it got operated on the same day.”

Etzebeth arrived at Toulon in 2019 after winning the World Cup and while he has enjoyed adapting to the French way, he expressed surprise with how well he gets on with the Kiwis in the club’s squad. “It’s been very good since I got here. The French guys all very nice, coaching staff, everyone since I have gotten here is all very good.

“For some reason, I have got on quite well with the New Zealand guys – the biggest rivals on the (Test) field. Last year it was Liam Messam and this season… Ma’a Nonu joined us. We get along really well. It’s just a good group. A good place to be off the field also, the weather is amazing, Toulon is close to Monaco and all those nice places.

“The only thing that is not as great now is Covid but that is the whole world suffering from that. Really enjoying it and we have built a new facility at Toulon, gym, recovery, all those things. Really happy here and I’ve actually got another three seasons left here, I’m here for the long run.”

Just two Englishmen make the cut. https://t.co/vBRP6K4Qmz

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 19, 2021

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Comments on RugbyPass

Another 14 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

One of the reasons why Borthwick is down to 50% is because they lost 3-0 to NZ this year. They still beat Ireland earlier this year though.

33 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 15 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Timing old bean! They’ve got a few rather decent ones coming through the pipe from their u20 world champ team.

33 Go to comments

d 18 minutes ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

SO what you're saying is that all Robertson needs to change is; virtually every player in the side. well that's useful, where are these supermen coming from?

34 Go to comments

Mitch 20 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

How is that England can't produce a tight head prop who can usurp Dan Cole in the pecking order?

33 Go to comments

RedWarrior 23 minutes ago

Rob Kearney’s All Blacks verdict: ‘They're scared of Ireland now...’

“Of course, they will always point to the last two quarter-finals of the World Cup which is what matters, but they will be coming to Dublin a little bit scared of what could potentially happen. And we’ll be scared to because the Irish team are always scared coming up against them.”

So he actually said BOTH Ireland and New Zealand will have trepidation going into this match. Same as any big match so.

1 Go to comments

RedWarrior 26 minutes ago

Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world?

Can you relay which "Irish" have said this? News to me.

I have stated that it is not the meritocracy it claims to be due to the draw and scheduling.

The 2023 draw was made right after the 2019 WC so I can substantiate that claim. For example Scotland who were 4th seed when the RWC started finished in joined 16th position. This was not a reflection of their ability: the draw meant they had to play two of the big 4 and bear at least one to have a chance of making a top 8.

Careful when you are sh1t talking the Irish. There are a few of us around here now.

34 Go to comments

RW 29 minutes ago

How the All Blacks plan to challenge Ireland after gutsy England win

31 Go to comments

RedWarrior 31 minutes ago

Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world?

They would all walk into The Irish or French first team? Come on..

34 Go to comments

RedWarrior 32 minutes ago

Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world?

That is a common thought around Internet fora but bears little resemblance to reality.

There may be issue on front row (being sorted) potentially but apart from that is incredibly strong.

B--Frawley/Prendergast, Murray/Casey, McCloskey, Henshaw, Nash, O'Brien, Osborne

F--McCarthy, Jager, Loughman, Baird, Kelleher, Izuchuckwu, Coombes, C. Prendergast,

Over half of those names finished for an injury struck Ireland in the win V SA in Durban.

34 Go to comments

LW 38 minutes ago

How the All Blacks plan to challenge Ireland after gutsy England win

Vaai is finally having his breakout year getting comfortable and showing great form at lock, and there are form players and experience all across the backrow, why on earth would you drop him to 6. Ridiculous

31 Go to comments

Another 43 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

So far, the All Blacks have won 8 matches out of 11 this year. That is a near 73% win rate. AB fans and, I assume, the team itself are not content with that and have everything to play for with the remaining 3 tests this year.

Their historical average is something like 77% these days and, although some years will always be better than others it is not likely to drop that dramatically to 70% any time soon. There is too much historical inertia on the stats. It is like saying Ireland’s form of the last 10 years or so is likely to reverse a historical average of 48% wins soon. It just isn’t.

Moreover, when you say they are ‘doomed’ to a 70% flatline are you not just assuming that Ireland will beat them again? How did that work out for you last time?

33 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 47 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Yeah but that means playing an imbalance of games between conferences and for me it just starts to undermine sporting integrity. Much prefer a solution that’s sharper and more crisp. But you can’t always have everything I guess…

33 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 57 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Munster were a B/academy mix…

33 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 58 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Tbf the one point that does have a ring of truth to it is the Irish rush D. They live right on the edge and often get the benefit of the doubt for too long in games because refs are under pressure to try and manage the flow of games. Similar issue at rucks where Ireland are absolute masters at protecting the ball but go off feet way more often than they are pinged for. I guess you could argue they are simply maximising the benefits of the full circumstances but it is damn infuriating at times too…!

33 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

And as for Saturday, England absolutely should have won it at the death, but only one team came to play rugby…and it wasn’t England! NZ totally deserving winners.

Borthwick has got it wrong, so very wrong. From what I hear camp has regressed and become an unhappy place once more. You only need to look at Marler’s abrupt departure when the team was named in camp and the grenade he lobbed on his way out the door that effectively retired him from test rugby! It was clear that he was livid at missing out on his match fee (no longer paid unless you’re in the 23 or on an eps contract apparently). Introducing a two tier system on the eve of the AIs was total madness!!! And then there’s selection. Slade wasn’t anywhere near ready, neither was Ford and hooking smith when the game is in the balance was beyond comprehension. Even if he needed to do that, fin smith steered his team adroitly to the Prem last year but was nowhere to be seen.

Then there’s his game plan. England looked like they were in danger of making real progress towards the end of the 6N but Saturday was the antithesis of that approach. There wasn’t an attack visible that was worthy of the description.

Borthwicks win rate is now abysmally low and this is beginning to look like it only end badly…

33 Go to comments

dw 1 hour ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Reminds me a little of our cricket teams in late 90s early 2000s. Everyone expected us to win every test but eventually we stopped being unbeatable.

Nz also seem to be relying on older players for some positions too. Who else can play 10 outside Barrett and D mac?

33 Go to comments

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The thing is MQ that the 85% was the anomaly. It was an unprecedented run of excellence that may never be repeated. To judge any sports team on their best ever period is only going to lead to disappointment. Im happy with the 75% mark which is NZs average in its rugby history. Foster was always on a hiding to nothing.

Slipping is relevent if you only look back to 2010 or there abouts thru to 2018. A freakish period of success really. It never was the norm and will probably never be seen again over the extended period it was. Teams can have great runs thru 12-18 mths but 8-10 years of dominance is unheard of generally.

33 Go to comments