Etzebeth backs 'capable' Steenkamp
Western Province may have lost the services of two of their most seasoned forwards, but they still have enough firepower to account for the Golden Lions.
Province head to Johannesburg on Saturday to take on the defending Currie Cup champions in a repeat of last year's semifinal.
Injuries have ruled out veteran Boks Andries Bekker and Tiaan Liebenberg – in a season that have also robbed WP of other world class players like Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers.
However, Eben Etzebeth – one of the finds of the year – believe they do have enough experience for a Lions team that has played some great rugby this year.
"De Kock Steenkamp has been playing Currie Cup rugby the whole year and he is one of the players that ensure we reached the semifinals, with his line-out calling and scrumming," Etzebeth said, when asked about the injuries suffered by the Boks.
"In the pre-season I played with him [Steenkamp] and he is very capable in his job," the Boks second row forward said, adding: "He will do just fine in Andries' place."
He dismissed the suggestion that he would be holding back on Saturday, for the fear of risking an injury that could also rule him out of South Africa's year-end tour to Ireland, Scotland and England.
"We should not worry about things like that, we must just go out there and play [against the Lions] on Saturday," Etzebeth said.
"You can never go into a game thinking of injury, you must play every game flat-out and if you get injured that is just bad luck."
Asked about his contesting on the opposition's ball, Etzebeth deflected attention away from himself.
"It is something we work on all the time," he said, adding: "It is more a case of all the forwards working together, as each player knows what his task is in the line-outs.
"It is not just about me, it is about all the other guys, who support [the jumpers] and all that."
The 20-year-old rookie Bok, who made his Test debut against England in June, finally played his first Currie Cup game (and made his WP debut) in the win over the Free State Cheetahs last week.
"To get a win on my debut was very special," he said of a year that saw the former Varsity Cup star played Super and Test rugby before he set foot on the Currie Cup stage.
He described the encounter with the Cheetahs as physical as Super Rugby and not far below Test rugby.
Asked how his body is feeling after a year in which he has already played more than 20 games at Super Rugby and Test level, Etzebeth was again a picture of youthful innocence.
"It is my first season, so I am still very keen to play. On a Monday the body is sore, but by Saturday I am fine to play."
Etzebeth said he was looking forward to a showdown with Michael Rhodes, another very talented young utility forward that burst onto the scene this year.
"I haven't played much Currie Cup, so I haven't seen much of him," the WP lock said, adding: "But I am looking forward to playing against him."
The young giant, who turns 21 in just over a week (October 29) said winning the Currie Cup would be the 'cherry on top' of his breakthrough year.
"At the beginning of the year I set myself some goals and I have exceeded expectations.
"I's been a great year so far, but if we can win the Currie Cup it will be so much better."
