Eben Etzebeth fast becoming a true warrior

Eben Etzebeth has never shied away from his role as an enforcer in both the Springbok and Stormers packs. It's a natural fit for the massive lock - with huge strength, incredible athletic gifts and the emotional capacity to take pain.

It's a job he's excelled at, only occasionally crossing the line into thuggery. But it's also a role that hides his obvious natural talents as a ball player and as someone that could play a bigger part across the field.

This season the Stormers are starting to tap into Etzebeth's more cerebral and athletic side. The evolution of Eben Etzebeth is in progress.

It's not only the obvious shift from lineout labourer to the foreman of the set-piece, where Etzebeth has been entrusted with calling while Duane Vermeulen was enjoying a rest. It's also in his all-round role, with the Stormers trying to give him some slack when it comes to popping up in wider channels.

Etzebeth has been a noticeable and effective ball-carrier at times this year. After an injury- plagued two seasons he is starting to fulfil the vast potential he displayed in 2012 and 2013.

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As a runner in phase play it's noticeable how Etzebeth's first instinct is now to look for space rather than contact. He doesn't mind a head-on collision, but he's also enjoying causing havoc with a sneaky offload. He's a long way from becoming a Sonny Bill Williams, but he's also steadily moving away from turning into another Bakkies Botha.

"We've had a plan to work with Eben to turn him into a No 5," Stormers forwards coach Matt Proudfoot said.

"You've got to introduce players to changes at the right time and this was the right time for Eben. The lineout functioned well with him in charge.

"Someone like Manuel Carizza has been influential as well in terms of giving Eben guidance, and we've been using a simple lineout structure, which has added to his confidence.

"Eben has enjoyed it. He's an incredible athlete with great aerial skills. If he makes a mistake he backs his physical ability to overcome the mistakes."

Considering that the Springboks' first choice No 5 lock, Victor Matfield, is an ageing 38 and Pieter-Steph du Toit, the next in line, is out with a long-term knee injury, Etzebeth's evolution to a No 5 is important.

In an ideal scenario Bok coach Heyneke Meyer would like to see Etzebeth and Du Toit blossom into the perfect athletic second-row duo.

They could both manage the lineouts, and because both are so freakishly athletic and strong it's not a stretch for them to interchange second row positions in broken play.

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In 2012 Meyer already spoke of Etzebeth becoming a world-class No 5, but that was before Du Toit's emergence. At test level at least, Etzebeth remained a stereotypical No 4, tasked with doing the hard work in the tight loose.

But the Stormers' decision to allow the 23-year-old a little more latitude could pay off for Meyer this season, especially if Matfield breaks down.

In last year's Rugby Championship Etzebeth played 394 minutes, carried the ball 37 times, making 147 metres, and only effecting one offload.

This year in Super Rugby he has played 392 minutes, carried 40 times, made 223 metres and successfully completed three offloads.

Obviously test rugby is tougher, but making so many more metres in roughly the same time and with the same amount of carries does point to a player looking for less contact and more space.

Etzebeth has stolen six lineouts this season, which is a key performance indicator of a quality No 5 lock. The ability to analyse opposition during a game and adapt is Matfield's great strength, and something Etzebeth is absorbing.

Adding to his improving ability to manage the lineout, it's clear to see that the blunt object that was Eben Etzebeth between 2012-14 is now a little sharper and more lethal.

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