Analysis: Eben Etzebeth’s masterclass as Springboks stun France in Rugby World Cup classic

It took a mighty effort from the Springboks to knock France out of their home Rugby World Cup, and South Africa got that from one of their greatest players, Eben Etzebeth.

World Cups can bring the best out of players as they go in search of glory, with the tournament’s history littered with all-time great performances.

Think Thierry Dusautoir against the All Blacks in 2011, David Campese in 1991, Jannie de Beer in the knockout game against England in 1999 and Jonah Lomu in 1995.

On Sunday at the Stade de France, Springboks lock Etzebeth added his name to that ever-growing list with a masterclass shift to fire the defending champions past the hosts.

The 31-year-old has been in sensational form over the past two years, but the performance in the quarter-final may have been not only his best in that time but ever in the Springboks jumper.

While he is renowned for his physicality and abrasive approach to the game, Etzebeth’s rugby IQ is often overlooked, with the powerhouse lock displaying his sharp knowledge of the laws and tactical nous.

Rocky start

It didn’t start all too well for the Boks as France got off to a rapid start, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey coming incredibly close to scoring in the opening two minutes.

A threatening French attack comes to a close when Damian Willemse charges down Damian Penaud’s attempted chip and chase. By this stage, Etzebeth has already made a carry and two thunderous hits, the first on Charles Ollivon and the second a double tackle on Uini Atonio.

While Etzebeth had a stellar game, the next phase, he gets it all wrong as he leaps into the air to compete the French lineout. On his landing, his leg is lifted, and the second-rower ends up on top of a rampaging French maul that is stopped just short of the line before Antoine Dupont sends Cyril Baille over.

South Africa would have been well aware of France’s lethal edge in the opening stages of Test matches, having averaged 13.8 points inside the first 20 minutes of their World Cup games before the quarter-final; they were also brutally effective from lineouts with 12 of their 27 tries coming from the set-piece. However, being aware of and dealing with that threat are two entirely different things.

In any sport, it is the big moments and matches when the best players step up to the mark and produce their best, and Etzebeth did just that.

The hand of Etzebeth

Trailing 7-0 after just five minutes, the Springboks needed a response and quickly. They went in search of that when hooker Bongi Mbonambi charged at the defence, with Etzebeth on his shoulder, but awkwardly lost control of the ball before contact. Both players end up going to ground with Mbonambi’s opposite number, Peato Mauvaka, scooping up the loose ball and sprinting into the Boks’ half.

This is where Etzebeth shows his work rate and class as Mauvaka has sprinted away 20 metres before he is back up, but the lock spots the threat and starts tearing back to get back into the defensive line.

By the time Dupont scoops the ball out of the next ruck, the Boks are defending a five-on-three with Etzebeth still charging back. Dupont throws a great skip pass out to Gael Fickou, who goes charging into space and with Etzebeth still sprinting backwards, he provides cover for Manie Libbok, who is beaten on the inside.

Etzebeth makes a sublime tackle on the charging French centre and drags him down two metres short of the line. At this point, Les Bleus look well on track to extending their lead and bettering the 13.8 average mentioned above in the first 10 minutes rather than 20.

Two quick phases to the right, and Dupont has opened up the blindside to attack once more, but Etzebeth is privy to this and repositions himself. Penaud gets the ball, and instead of playing the short ball to Gregory Alldritt – probably the better option – he skips the number eight and throws wide for Thomas Ramos.

Etzebeth gives his all here as he leaps forward in desperation with his arm stretched out wide and crucially hits the ball backwards, in an incredible try-saving action as Pieter-Steph du Toit dives on the ball.

While his actions have been largely debated, referee Ben O’Keeffe was certain it went backwards in real-time, with TMO confirming the decision shortly afterwards.

Hi Hugh – I was lucky enough to have ref comms. Ref immediately called it 'backwards' and was subsequently informed through the comms by TMO – who has access to all angles – that his call was correct.

— Matt Pearce (@MattP555) October 16, 2023

South Africa clear into touch, and on the next passage of play, Etzebeth produced another piece of brilliance to level the game up.

France secure the lineout and go into their attacking shape, but Duane Vermeulen wins a turnover for the Boks after Anthony Jelonch’s carry. As the turnover is made, Etzebeth looks up and spots the French backfield is in disarray and calls for Cobus Reinach, who spotted the same thing, to hang up the up and under.

The kick from Reinach proves to be incredibly tricky for France, with Fickou, Ollivon and Bielle-Biarrey all closing in on the ball to compete, but Etzebeth contests superbly and this time crucially doesn’t touch the ball, forcing the error as the ball is allowed to bounce, and rapid winger Kurt-Lee Arendse pounces to score. Libbok’s conversion evens the scores at seven all. Etzebeth is right back in the action from the restart, evading a high tackle from Penaud before gaining some ground for the clearance.

The Springbok centurion did not have a massive role to play in his side’s next score as Damian de Allende charged over the line but was still busy throughout, making clearouts.

He made the tackles asked of him and pressured the breakdown before Mauvaka got on the scoreboard, but he again got his side back in the game with the responding try.

Cheslin Kolbe’s try

In the 25th minute, France looks to launch their next attack after a failed attempt to form a maul. Dupont gets his forwards to try to build some momentum, but Atonio’s ball placement puts Dupont under pressure, and Etzebeth reacts quickly, knowing that the ball is out, and clatters into the French captain.

The ball spills loose, and Baille is unable to secure the ball with Siya Kolisi charging up on him; Du Toit scoops up the ball and initiates the counter-attack with Jesse Kriel stabbing an outstanding grubber through for Cheslin Kolbe to score. Again, the lock got his side back in the game shortly after France took the lead.

It was another brilliant, sharp play from the second-rower who showed his understanding of the breakdown laws during the Champions Cup last year and did so again in the World Cup.

👏 Brilliant Springboks' counterattack!#FRAvRSA #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/QKKAnTW280

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) October 15, 2023

The 117-Test cap international’s half ended on a low when he got his tackle on Atonio wrong and was rightly sent to the sin bin.

His teammates managed his sin-bin period superbly, with only a Ramos penalty scored while he was off the pitch, as South Africa were behind 22-19 when he returned.

And he went right back to work again, continuously applying the pressure on Dupont and Matthieu Jalibert with his attempted charge downs, contesting Cameron Woki and Ollivon at the lineout and doing his usual duties at the breakdown to the highest order. France would extend their lead to 25-19 shortly after his return.

He was relentless both on attack and defence, while his scrummaging prowess cannot be understated.

With the game on the line, South Africa earned a penalty five metres out from the French line after a great kick and chase from De Allende and Kwagga Smith.

Match-winning try

The Boks had several options here, with a scrum and lineout usually their best bets. However, they opted for a tap-and-go and ended up executing a set play from the training ground.

Etzebeth makes the clearout on the second phase of the move before he scans for mismatches close to the line, playing heads-up rugby. He initially spots one and calls for the ball from Faf de Klerk.

The scrum-half instead plays Vermeulen, who attempts to form a driving maul close to the line. However, he is dragged to the ground, and Etzebeth immediately wraps around and identifies the weak link in the French defence, Jalibert.

While Jalibert was brilliant in attack for France, he posted a 74 per cent tackle success rate during the tournament. While for a fly-half that is not a particularly poor percentage, he did attempt just 23 tackles in his four games as Shaun Edwards shielded the playmaker.

With nearly a 40-kilogram weight advantage over the number 10, it was a clear mismatch and knowing this, Jalibert shot up to catch Etzebeth before he gained momentum.

But his poor technique let him down as the Bok lock drove him backwards five metres over the line and scored a crucial try that sealed the result.

Unbelievable strength from Eben Etzebeth 💪#RWC2023 | #FRAvRSA pic.twitter.com/3bpT3NCx30

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 15, 2023

Tallying this all up, in a game that the Springboks won by one point, Etzebeth was directly involved in dying France, possibly seven points and played a crucial role in two converted tries. That is a 21-point swing performance in his side won 29-28.

In the latter stages of the match, Etzebeth led the kick chase to chop down Ramos, who looked to be kickstarting a dangerous counter-attack, and after France closed the gap with a penalty, he was sprinting up from the restart as he well and truly emptied the tank.

Even after a scrum near the French try line, Etzebeth tore back as Les Bleus threatened a match-winning try. He quickly got back into the defensive line and managed to win a turnover with just over a minute on the clock.

Sunday’s victory over France was his 117th Test match as he drew level with Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira as the second most capped Springbok forward of all time, and throughout those 117 Test matches, he has an incredible catalogue of performances. This one is certainly up there with the best of them, if not the best.

READ MORE: Rassie Erasmus explains Damian Willemse’s scrum call from the mark in the Springboks’ 22