We've got a game on our hands, says Eben

21 June 2016 - 10:15 By GEORGE BYRON

Giant Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is primed for a bone-jarring confrontation against an Irish outfit hell-bent on making rugby history in Port Elizabeth on Saturday."Now we can win the series," Etzebeth, who weighs a hefty 123kg, said ahead of the winner-takes-all clash after the Boks beat Ireland 32-26 in Johannesburg."In the last 20 minutes in Johannesburg I think a few guys stuck up their hands and the whole leadership group stood up and things worked out."Now we must front up again and the guys will be ready this week. We are expecting more of the same. Now we have a game on our hands to clinch the series," Etzebeth said.The 2.04m tall lock, who has 46 Test caps, says he does not feel any added responsibility now that he is one of the senior players in the team. Etzebeth was called up to the Springbok squad for the first time by former head coach Heyneke Meyer ahead of the three-match series against England in June 2012.Since then the imposing lock has been a regular figure in the green and gold."I am still looking up to senior players like captain Adriaan Strauss and JP Pietersen and other experienced players," he said.Despite being 16 points behind at the break in Johannesburg, Strauss said he had never been worried about the eventual outcome."The team created a lot of opportunities that we could just not finish. We need to get that ruthless mindset to get points on the board."We will be better in Port Elizabeth," he promised...

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