VOTE: Bok star named among award nominees

After 20 enthralling matches over four weeks as the best of the northern and southern hemispheres recently went head to head, six players have been named among the award nominees, which includes Bok lock Etzebeth.

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The Player of the Series candidates are: Caelan Doris (Ireland), Antoine Dupont (France), Romain Ntamack (France), Marcus Smith (England), Freddie Steward (England) and Etzebeth.

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Here is the reasoning given for Etzebeth’s nomination

South Africa’s Autumn Nations Series campaign may have ended on a low note with their last-gasp defeat to England but it certainly wasn’t for Eben Etzebeth’s lack of effort.

The talismanic lock was all over the park for the Springboks, making a joint team high seven carries for 46 metres (second on the team) and also topping the South African rankings for tackles with 13.

He used all his veteran nous to steal a crucial late lineout that almost scuppered England’s hopes of victory, while his physicality and raw power helped his team’s pack dominate proceedings in the second half.

It was the sort of display Etzebeth produced throughout the Autumn Nations Series as he drove the world champions to victories over Wales and Scotland before the final round loss.

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Meanwhile, Etzebeth’s French club Toulon has recently placed the Bok lock on a three-month break after suffering his third concussion of the year.

In a press release on Friday afternoon, Toulon announced that Etzebeth will be forced to spend a three-month period out of action due to the latest concussion he suffered while playing for the Boks against England.

The decision was made after specialist advice and is in line with the concussion management protocol of the National Rugby League (LNR).