Etzebeth defends Springboks' ageing squad ahead of series-deciding clash with All Blacks

Eben Etzebeth has pushed back against concerns over the Springboks’ age profile, insisting that experience is an asset rather than a liability as South Africa prepare for Saturday’s fourth and final Test against the All Blacks at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Etzebeth, who turns 35 next month, is one of 14 players over the age of 30 in the matchday squad named by head coach Rassie Erasmus. Far from viewing that as a weakness, the 145-cap lock argues the squad’s collective wisdom has been central to their performances throughout the series.

“Experience is quite important,” Etzebeth said ahead of the match. “A lot of us talk about what happens on the field and what we can do better in certain situations. There’s still a big sense of responsibility, not just individually, but as a collective to keep representing South Africa well and to the best of our ability.”

He added: “I know we’re getting a bit older, but personally it feels like we’re working a lot harder than when we were younger. I think I speak on behalf of all the older guys who have been here for a while. We understand how fortunate we are to still be here, and I think that’s why we’re still performing at such a high level and competing with the best in the world.”

The Springboks’ ability to recover from a slow start has become something of a trademark under Erasmus. South Africa lost the opening Test of this series at Ellis Park before winning back-to-back matches to take a 2-1 lead, and Etzebeth drew a direct line to previous comebacks that ended in silverware.

“Every time we don’t start well, we pull together,” he said. “It happened in the British & Irish Lions series in 2021. In both World Cups — 2019 and 2023 — we lost a pool game and there was no more room for losing, so we’ve been in this situation before and it’s happening again.”

On both of those World Cup occasions, the Springboks went on to lift the Webb Ellis Cup, a precedent that will not be lost on their opponents as the series reaches its conclusion in Baltimore.