Eben amped for Bok lock reunion

Sharks captain Eben Etzebeth is eagerly anticipating the lock duel with Bok teammate Jean Kleyn in Saturday’s Vodacom URC quarter-final at Kings Park.

The two enforcers know each other well from their Stormers days, last went head to head when the Sharks beat Munster 41-24 in October.

“It’s always good to go up against fellow South Africans and I’m sure we’ll get each other in a ruck one or twice and have something to say to each other, in a positive way,” Etzebeth told the media on Tuesday.

“He’s a good man and a good player for Munster, and I’m looking forward to going up against him.”

Etzebeth said he was feeling “quite fresh” going into the playoffs, having spent five months on the sidelines before making his return during the Sharks’ two-match URC tour in April. In their last fixture, against Scarlets at Kings Park two weeks ago, he played the full 80 minutes.

“It was obviously frustrating with the concussion. There’s not really a timeline on it, it’s all about your symptoms and how you respond to certain treatments. So I’d think, ‘maybe I’ll be back in a week’s time’ and then it’s a bit longer.

“And then I picked up a hamstring [strain at the first Bok alignment camp] and had to sit out a bit more.

“It was good to get that first 80 minutes against Scarlets under the belt,” he added. “It’s good when you play 20 here or 60 there, but when you finally get a full game, you really feel like you’re back in the mix.”

The Sharks finished third on the log to secure a home quarter-final for the first time in the short history of the URC. At the same stage in the inaugural 2021-22 season, they lost 30-27 to the Bulls at Loftus and then 35-5 to Leinster in Dublin the following season.

“Playing at home is definitely an advantage and a good opportunity for us to hopefully push a bit further in this competition,” Etzebeth said. “But two seasons ago, Munster played a quarter-final, semi-final and final away from home [and won the tournament] so they are used to playoff success.”

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However, while the Sharks have kept on winning in this season’s URC, their performances have often been poor, no more so than in the dire spectacle against Scarlets when they required four penalty goals to get the result.

“I understand the fans might be a bit frustrated, because sometimes players and coaches are too,” said Etzebeth.

“But this is the highest the Sharks have ever finished in the URC, with only Leinster and the Bulls above us. We have a home quarter-final and we know if we win it we will stay in South Africa for a semi-final, whether it’s at the Shark Tank [against Edinburgh] or at the Bulls.

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“Last season we lost the tight matches and finished 14th on the log,” he added. “This season we’ve won them, and that’s the difference. A couple of points and you have a home quarter-final. We’re used to playing those tight games, but hopefully we don’t have to make it too tight [in the playoffs].

“Munster are a quality side, though, and it’s probably going to come down to discipline on the day or who’s got the better goal-kicker.”

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