Eben Etzebeth officially classed as two players ahead of Champions Cup debut
The Sharks have named their team to face Harlequins this Saturday in their Heineken Champions Cup debut and it is a team loaded with World Cup winning Springboks.
One of those players is Eben Etzebeth, who is basically making his second debut at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park. Of course, he has already made his Sharks debut after signing for them at the end of the last season's Top 14, but with the combination of the Rugby Championship and the November internationals, he has barely featured for the Sharks. Now he returns alongside his club and country captain Siya Kolisi.
The Sharks shared a video of Etzebeth in the gym this week, and it is getting to the point where it is actually unfair for his to be classified as one player. Given the size of his arms, they should be classified as another pair of legs. It is one thing being arguably the best player in the world at the moment, or one of, but to actually be the size of two backs makes it pretty unfair.
This will be the lock's first match since his try scoring display against England at Twickenham at the end of last month. The Boks won that game 27-13, and was effectively the final nail in the Eddie Jones coffin, who was sacked earlier this week. If Etzebeth brings the kind of form he has had for the Springboks over the last six months into a Sharks jersey, they are going to be tough to beat in the Champions Cup.
Take a look at the video:
Cell C Sharks
1. Ox Nche
2. Bongi Mbonambi
3. Carlu Sadie
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Gerbrandt Grobler
6. Siya Kolisi (c)
7. Vincent Tshituka
8. Phepsi Buthelezi
9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Francois Venter
14. Werner Kok
15. Boeta Chamberlain
Replacements
16. Dan Jooste
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Khutha Mchunu
19. Hyron Andrews
20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
21. Grant Williams
22. Lionel Cronje
23. Rohan Janse van Rensburg