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By Rugby Onslaught

Eben Etzebeth officially confirmed rugby genius by ending caterpillar rucks

Eben Etzebeth knows his stuff, and showed he clearly knows the laws of rugby like the back of his hand to hoodwink Harlequins completely on Saturday.

Up against Quins in the Heineken Champions Cup at the Stoop, the Sharks lock showed a rugby IQ that seemed to be higher that the entire Quins team's combined.

The hosts had possession in their own half with a minute left of the first 40, and had shaped up to box kick into the Sharks' half. Quins had set up a caterpillar ruck, with England prop Joe Marler at the back of the ruck. However, after the ruck was shunted, Marler suddenly only had a hand on the ruck, rather than a shoulder, which Etzebeth astutely saw.

The Springboks lock snapped up the ball right in front of Danny Care and went in to run in a try from 40 metres out to mean his side only trailed by two points at half time.

This was a genius knowledge of the laws of rugby, as, not only had none of his teammates picked up on Quins' rucking, but the Quins players themselves (or at least Marler) were not aware of this either. Etzebeth's stock continues to rise with every game.

Take a look at the try:

Harlequins Starting XV

1. Joe Marler

2. Jack Walker

3. Wilco Louw

4. Stephan Lewies

5. Irne Herbst

6. Dino Lamb

7. Will Evans

8. Alex Dombrandt ©

9. Danny Care

10. Marcus Smith

11. Josh Bassett

12. Andre Esterhuizen

13. Joe Marchant

14. Cadan Murley

15. Nick David

Impact Players

16. George Head

17. Fin Baxter

18. Simon Kerrod

19. Tom Lawday

20. Luke Wallace

21. Scott Steele

22. Tommy Allan

23. Oscar Beard

Cell C Sharks

1. Ox Nche

2. Kerron van Vuuren

3. Thomas du Toit

4. Eben Etzebeth

5. Gerbrandt Grobler

6. Siya Kolisi (c)

7. Vincent Tshituka

8. Phepsi Buthelezi

9. Jaden Hendrikse

10. Curwin Bosch

11. Thaakir Abrahams

12. Ben Tapuai

13. Lukhanyo Am

14. Marnus Potgieter

15. Aphelele Fassi

Replacements

16. Dan Jooste

17. Ntuthuko Mchunu

18. Carlu Sadie

19. Hyron Andrews

20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe

21. Grant Williams

22. Lionel Cronje

23. Francois Venter