How bookmakers reacted to Eben Etzebeth's late inclusion

How bookmakers reacted to Eben Etzebeth’s late inclusion

Leading South African bookmakers were quick to react to the news of Eben Etzebeth’s late inclusion in the Springbok matchday squad.

Leading South African bookmakers were quick to react to the news of Eben Etzebeth's late inclusion in the Springbok matchday squad. Image: SA Rugby website

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth was cleared to face New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday some 24 hours after he was excluded from the official team announcement.

According to coach Rassie Erasmus, after Etzebeth completed all the training sessions earlier this week and was drafted onto the replacements bench for the Rugby Championship encounter.

Kick-off is at 17:00.

Could pass Bryan Habana

Etzebeth replaced Marco van Staden on the bench, which offers the team specialist lock cover for the starting combination of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ruan Nortje.

Should he get game time, the Test will mark Etzebeth’s 125th in the green and gold jersey, which will see him leapfrog Bryan Habana as the second most capped Springbok of all time and take one step closer to Victor Matfield’s Springbok Test record of 127 caps.

“Our selection policy has always been that if a player does not train on a Monday he will not play on Saturday, but Eben has made it through training pain-free all week, so we had to make the tough call to name him in the squad at the expense of Marco,” said Erasmus.

“There were back-up options for us at lock in the initial squad, but with Eben on the bench it means we have another specialist in that position in the team.

“We are blessed to have an expanded squad of about 45 players who have all bought into our plans and who understand what’s best for the team, and it’s admirable how Marco accepted the news. It shows the quality of the player and person he is.”

Leading South African bookmakers Hollywoodbets were quick to react to the news of Etzebeth’s late inclusion – as well as the naming of the All Blacks matchday squad on Thursday.

The Springboks are now 7/20 favourites for the match, while the All Blacks can be backed at 24/10.

The draw after 80 minutes is on offer at 20/1.

In terms of handicap, the Springboks are seen to be 7.5-point favourites.

TEAMS

South Africa

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard

New Zealand

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams

Substitutes: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Mark Tele’a