Etzebeth says he still has lots of rugby in him after record 128 Springboks tests

MBOMBELA, South Africa (AP) — The guy who eclipsed the great Victor Matfield as South Africa's all-time caps record-holder wants to keep playing rugby for as long as his body can hack it.

Eben Etzebeth became the most capped Springbok in his 128th test on Saturday, and said he's still loving what he does.

Winning trophies helps.

Etzebeth played all 80-odd minutes as South Africa won the Rugby Championship for the first time in five years by dominating Argentina 48-7.

It was a typical Etzebeth performance: He carried seven times, made 10 tackles — second only to fellow lock Ruan Nortje — caught a couple of throw-ins and conceded a penalty.

After receiving a special tasseled cap to mark his milestone from Matfield, with whom he went to the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Etzebeth said, "The milestone wouldn't have been nice if we'd lost this game. The team really showed up.

“The guys wanted to make it special for me, but it will always be a team sport, and the trophy was the big thing, and we'll celebrate it very nicely tonight. It was an unbelievable performance from everyone.”

Etzebeth debuted in mid-2012 against England at age 20. He was the fastest Bok to 50 tests and the youngest Bok to 100. The Bok enforcer doesn't turn 33 for another month. He appeared in all six Rugby Championship rounds.

"I've made no secret that the reason I play this game is to play for this team; to perform for my (Sharks) club and to be selected for the national side — that's the ultimate.

“So I'll keep pushing, training hard and performing for my club and hopefully the coaches will keep on selecting me. I never like to share my goals with the public — I like to keep it close to my heart — and I'll still push on, and if the body's good I'll continue to go.”

That was sweet news to Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, with whom Etzebeth goes way back.

“We have been together since we were 18 and you've been a true friend and you have led us in so many ways the way you play the game,” Kolisi said.

“I am so proud of you and pleased to be your friend. I can't wait to tell my grandkids I played with Eben Etzebeth. Cheers, my friend, I love you.”

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

South Africa's Eben Etzebeth catches the ball during a rugby championship test match against Argentina at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Eben Etzebeth, right, is tackled by Argentina's Joel Sclavi during a rugby championship test match at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Eben Etzebeth goes out on the field for a rugby championship test match against Argentina at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Eben Etzebeth jumps for the ball during a rugby championship test match against Argentina at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo is uncertain for the postseason after fracturing the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh's Ryan Borucki in the seventh inning of Saturday’s 9-4 loss to the Pirates.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said it was too early to determine whether Rizzo will be able to play in the AL Division Series opener on Oct. 5.

“We’ll see what we have as the week moves forward. It doesn’t totally rule him out,” Boone said. “Something that is a pain-tolerance thing. So we’ll see as the days unfold here what we have.”

Rizzo was hit on the bottom of his hand by Borucki’s 1-2 slider leading off the seventh, the 222nd time Rizzo was hit by a pitch in his big league career. Rizzo winced in pain and stayed in after being checked out by head athletic trainer Tim Lentych.

After the Yankees batted in the seventh, Oswaldo Cabrera moved over from shortstop and Anthony Volpe entered at shortstop.

Rizzo missed 62 games with a fractured right forearm after colliding with Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino in the seventh inning on June 16 at Fenway Park. He hit .228 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 92 games this season, including .380 (8 for 21) since returning from the injured list on Sept. 1.

Oswaldo Cabrera and rookie Ben Rice are possible replacements for Rizzo. Rice hit .175 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 49 games while Rizzo was sidelined.

Boone did not mention DJ LeMahieu, who hasn’t played since Sept. 3 because of right hip impingement.

It was the second significant injury for the Yankees during the regular season's finale week. Left-hander Nestor Cortes went on the injured list because of a flexor strain in his pitching elbow. Cortes and the Yankees are holding out hope he could return at some point in the postseason.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Yankees' Anthony Rizzo runs to third base during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)