Springboks receive good news about Eben Etzebeth

Eben Etzebeth believes he will be back in action when the Springboks host Australia in the opening match of the Rugby Championship in Pretoria.

SA Rugby’s 2022 Player of the Year was hurt in the Sharks’ Champions Cup last-16 win against Munster in Durban and was given an initial period of between 14 and 16 weeks on the sidelines.

However, speaking to Sunday newspaper Rapport, the Springbok centurion gave a positive update on his recovery.

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“I aim to be ready for the Rugby Championship, but then everything will have to go well, which I believe will happen,” Etzebeth told Rapport.

The Springboks open their 2023 Test calendar against the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld on 8 July, before facing the All Blacks in Auckland on 15 July and finishing the shortened Rugby Championship against Argentina in Johannesburg on 29 July.

While Etzebeth is expected to be fit in time for the Rugby Championship, two other Springboks are in a race against time to prove their availability for the World Cup. Salmaan Moerat is currently recovering from a long-term knee injury and won’t return before August, while veteran Frans Steyn’s knee injury is also expected to keep him out of most of the Rugby Championship.

The Springboks will name their final 33-man squad for the World Cup on 8 August.

This story first appeared on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished here with permission.