Eben Etzebeth on a rampaging run in the Champions Cup

Eben Etzebeth goes on a rampaging run in the Champions Cup. Photo: Getty Images.

Etzebeth hails Champions Cup ‘best club competition in the world’

Springbok and Sharks lock Eben Etzebeth says the European Champions Cup rates up there as the world’s best club rugby competition.

Eben Etzebeth on a rampaging run in the Champions Cup

Eben Etzebeth goes on a rampaging run in the Champions Cup. Photo: Getty Images.

Eben Etzebeth says the European Champions Cup rates up there as the world’s best club rugby competition.

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The Sharks and Springbok lock’s assertion comes after his franchise side marched into the knockout stage in their maiden Champions Cup campaign.

The Durban-based outfit were beaten 39-29 at Harlequins in a thrilling Round 4 game on Saturday, but three straight victories prior to that saw them earn a home clash with Munster in the Round of 16.

Etzebeth, who scored the Sharks’ third try at Twickenham Stoop, has hailed the unique atmosphere the Champions Cup brings as the three South African teams debuting in the tournament progressed from the pool stage.

“I think it is the best club competition in the world,” the 110-time Springbok said. “I have been a part of Super Rugby and the French Top 14 and now the United Rugby Championship, but I must say the Champions Cup is something different, something special.

“I think all the teams try to build up to the Champions Cup weeks and try to get the best players ready, so it’s definitely a special competition to play in.

“There is a whole aura around the Champions Cup, special music, it’s the best of Europe, and we [South Africans teams] get to play against new teams.”

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ETZEBETH SCORES BRILLIANT CHAMPIONS CUP TRY:

Etzebeth showed a great understanding and appreciation of one of rugby’s most complicated laws when he pulled off a genius move to score long-range try against Harlequins. Watch how he did it in the clip below.

As Harlequins scrumhalf Danny Care prepared to execute a box kick at the back of a ruck, Joe Marler latched onto a teammate to extend the ruck in order to give the No 9 more space to manoeuvre the aerial bomb.

But Marler made a mess of things when lost his bind after Sharks hooker Kerron van Vuuren hit the ruck from the front, and Springbok Etzebeth quickly summed the situation within seconds and made his move. 

Timing his run to perfection to avoid being offside, the 31-year-old Etzebeth only advanced once Marler’s bind was loose, before snatching the ball from Care’s grasp and speeding away to score without any trouble.

Eben Etzebeth in full flight in Champions Cup.
Eben Etzebeth in full flight in Champions Cup.