Springbok fans have waited for it for the last three games, and now it’s finally happening – Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit will start together for the Boks.
Lood de Jager’s lumbering displays in the No 5 jersey against Argentina (two games) and Australia kept the Stormers lock duo apart despite them being the form South African lock pairing in Super Rugby.
That is what Allister Coetzee also thought in June during the Ireland series, but he was forced to pick De Jager in the opening Newlands Test as Du Toit was battling with a hamstring strain in the build-up week.
But after the Boks lost 26-20, Du Toit was back in the saddle at No 5 alongside Etzebeth, and the South Africans won in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth to clinch the series 2-1.
Suddenly De Jager was reinstated for the Rugby Championship despite being in poor form, and it showed as he lacked the aggression on attack and defence to be a factor against Argentina and Australia.
Du Toit, in contrast, has been a revelation every time he’s come off the bench, and De Jager’s knee injury in Brisbane has opened the door for Etzebeth to be reunited with his provincial partner.
But now they will face the biggest challenge of their careers when they stare down the best lock combo in the world in Christchurch on Saturday, the All Blacks’ Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.
It’s sure to get fiery at Rugby League Park, as Etzebeth and Retallick are always vying for the title of leading No 4 lock. They’ve played a similar amount of Tests – Etzebeth earned his 50th cap last week, while Retallick stands on 53 – and both made their debuts in 2012.
Etzebeth is arguably the better player in the tight exchanges, with his ability to provide front-foot ball with his carries his main attribute, while he is also an excellent tackler on cover defence. He is safe at the front of the lineout, and competes well against the opposition throw.
Retallick undoubtedly is the more skilful and athletic of the two, with his immense work-rate and penchant for offloading in the tackle. He also hits a lot of rucks, and is able to jump at different places in the lineout.
Where Etzebeth lets himself down is with discipline, as he often concedes unnecessary penalties and yellow cards.
Whitelock is an absolute master in the lineouts, and even got the better of the legendary Victor Matfield on occasion. His movement on the ground sets him apart from other jumpers, and he is the best lineout-stealer against the opposition throw. He does his fair share of carrying too, and makes his tackles.
Du Toit, in contrast, is all action. He is dynamic with ball-in-hand, has excellent running lines for a lock and uses his big frame to break through at the fringes – as he showed when scoring a crucial try in Salta.
He has worked incredibly hard on his lineouts, but hasn’t had to face someone of Whitelock’s stature in a head-to-head jumping duel. He only has 14 Test caps to his name compared to Whitelock’s 78, so can he handle the pressure at Rugby League Park on Saturday?
“I think Pieter-Steph is a great rugby player, and apart from that, he is very good at lineout-time. We are up for a massive challenge at the lineout tomorrow – the All Blacks have shown what they can do, especially on the opposition’s ball,” Bok captain Adriaan Strauss said in Christchurch on Friday.
“They’re a very dangerous side there, and we’ve done some preparations. But I back Pieter-Steph and he will make the right calls at the right time.”
The Boks are right up against it, and many fans are expecting the worst. But for there to be any chance of a miracle for Coetzee’s team, Etzebeth and Du Toit are the men who have to disrupt the All Blacks’ lineout supply and knock back their opposite numbers.
So, who’s gonna blink first?
Teams For Christchurch
All Blacks: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody.
Bench: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Matt Todd, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
Springboks: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Jaco Kriel, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Damian de Allende.
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