Eben Etzebeth meets Siya Dlamini who 'christened' the Springbok lock 'Elizabedi' in a viral TikTok video. Photos: Tiktok (iwa_ziii); Franco Arland/ Getty Images and X (@Springboks)
The overjoyed reaction of a Volksrust youngster when he finally gets to meet his “Elizabedi” in the flesh will go down as one of those epic “Stronger Together” Springbok trophy tour moments.
As one X (formerly Twitter) user aptly put it after watching the video posted on the Springboks’ social media account: “Nou tjank ek sommer weer”…
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Siya Dlamini, from Volksrust, in Mpumalanga, went viral on TikTok for hilariously screaming “Elizabedi” when Bok lock Etzebeth “Elizabedi” scored a crucial try against France in the nail-biting Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.
Since the video was shared on the TikTok account of Iwa_ziii , even Bok captain Siya Kolisi started referring to Etzebeth by his new nickname.
@lwa_ziii Pov: He’d really love to go to the finals to see Eben, lets tag @Rugby World Cup , @Springboks.rugby and @Eben Etzebeth till they see this 😭😭😭 #SAMA28 #lwazizulu #worldcup #RSA #springboksrugby #fyp #viral #rwc2023 ♬ original sound – Jesus’ Baby Girl🥹🫶🏽
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In the trophy tour video, the boy makes a beeline for the Etzebeth when the towering Springbok enters the hall and tackles him with a hug. And then another.
“You changed my name, hey!” Etzebeth – sporting his “JR Snyman haircut” – says to his adoring young, who is smiling from ear to ear at his Bok hero, Elizabedi.
“How do you say his name,” someone asks Siya, before he emphatically responds: “Elizabedi! Elizabedi!’
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The four-time world champions will be in Durban (Saturday, 4 November) before concluding in the Eastern Cape (East London) on Sunday, 5 November.
The locations have been selected for population size in the first three instances and because of the Eastern Cape’s rugby significance in the fourth.
Satellite tours to Bloemfontein, Nelson Mandela Bay and other cities will be scheduled for 2024.
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