We travel to Toulon to speak to Eben Etzebeth, one of the greatest Springboks ever | Rugby Roots

[@mikezog1030]

Love the way that these guys get stares from everyone walking past. Difficult not to notice two giants walking past.

[@GWLAD]

Always liked his abrasive on field personality grittiness and sheer determination to win seems a humble nice guy off the pitch modern day rugby Union legend

[@ChrisSavenSH]

it's jarring to hear that gentlest of gentle South African english accent coming from someone who looks outright scary on field at times.

[@Macron87]

Abrasive seems to mean staring really hard at someone these days

[@alistairclifton1286]

@@ChrisSavenSH Dude, that is an Afrikaans english accent...Think Bob Skinstad for the english SA accent.

[@mr.e6748]

@@alistairclifton1286 I think its just one of those Afrikaans but not Boertjie accents

[@bushbabybotha9943]

@@alistairclifton1286 nailed it, South African English is actually probably one of the best English accents in the world, better English than most Brits!

[@garfieldbraithwaite8590]

I was hoping not to like this guy, but his humility and humour won me over. He seems like a top man. Another great interview from Big Jim

[@Keiphton27]

This is fabulous. Being American I don’t get enough exposure to the amazing people involved in the sport, but this was exactly what I hoped it would be. Jim is fantastic and asks great questions while being respectful. Cheers to him and the producers. Keep em’ coming and wishing my best to everyone. Especially Mr. Etzebeth. Easy gent to root for. Safe travels all!

[@markbenson7749]

444d

[@Eldiablofunk]

As a french guy who despise Toulon , I can only be amazed by Etzebeth , such an outstanding and talented player , one of the best of all time at his post and he's career not over ! Much respect and love

[@zacbigs6166]

Quality from Jim yet again. Really enjoyed your development since starting your media career. Proper questioning getting the most out of every opportunity. Eben by far the best lock for the past 4 years. Plenty of fans in England. Good lad as well.

[@cullyx2913]

👍

[@RabbitholeIsrael]

one of the few enforcers that can actually back that up on the streets since his family were fighters

[@henrymilleruk100]

The only guest so far that makes it look like Jim is a normal sized human. The last two with Chris and Mike make it look like he’s taking his kids for a walk.

[@ChrisSavenSH]

lol, lol, yes, Eben is a fucking specimen

[@RabbitholeIsrael]

i saw eben at the johannesburg airport once. I actually thought he would look bigger and taller but he actually looked my size. LOL. i am 2m 130kg. sometimes i forget how big i am, but i noticed how little fat he had on his body for a rugby player.

[@daradelappe5125]

😂😂😂

[@afriquelesud]

Eben is the small guy in his family. 😊

[@perthpullers9761]

Eben, seems like a very nice guy off the field.

[@michaelfraser2057]

Great interview. Eben is one of my favourite players and it’s great to see him come across as a decent bloke. Big Jim is a hero too, really enjoying his stuff.

[@chewieire8646]

Really enjoying the rugby roots and documentary style stuff, keep it up

[@bobbyfourie9534]

Eben referred to his Dad and uncles. One of his uncles was the Western Province rugby legend Cliffy Etsebeth during the 70's/80's era. He was the hardest toughest enforcer on a rugby pitch I have ever seen anywhere in the world. We respect Bakkies Botha, Eben and many others from around the rugby World, but to be frank, I doubt it of any of them would have intimidated Cliffy Etsebeth. RIP Cliffy. ps. Jim man, you are a real pro!!

[@afriquelesud]

Cliffy, Harry and Skattie were legendary

[@oliverfarr8001]

Great interview Jim. For a guy that seems quite reserved when he speaks you got loads of good insight from him.

[@chercoe5717]

Eben is a beast!

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Eben right up there with Bakkies and Victor for the best locks to ever play the game

[@markbeechey8901]

Don't forget John Eales

[@Macron87]

Martin Johnson, John Eales and Victor Matfield. The others don’t make the list.

[@mikezog1030]

@@Macron87 Brodie Retallic too.

[@420frosty2]

​@@Macron87nah not involving bakkies is daylight robbery

[@maggsml5202]

Eben is a legend, great chat fellas

[@georgeatte788]

you know French top 14 is scary when Etzebeth is considered "small" 😂😂😂 Great interview and video there !

[@gideontladi]

Jim is such a great host.

[@DougieFrank]

I'm a Kiwi, & reckon Etzebeth & Retallick are easily the 2 best locks in the world. Etzebeth's skills, physicality & work-rate are outstanding. Seems like a decent & humble bloke off the field too.

[@cathalsheehan9596]

If world rugby was only one hemisphere maybe.

[@DougieFrank]

@@cathalsheehan9596 OK - name 2 locks from the Northern hemisphere that are ranked better.

[@cathalsheehan9596]

@@DougieFrank Tadgh Beirne firstly is the best SR on the planet right now, Etzebeth and/or Retallick could get picked but it’s Tadgh Beirne + one of the two mentioned.

[@DougieFrank]

@@cathalsheehan9596 Nah. While he is a class player he is defineitely not bettter than Retallick or Etzebeth. Those 2 are in a class of their own. Alun Wyn Jones would be 3rd best. And even though England are shit at the moment, I still rate Itoje over Beirne.

[@cathalsheehan9596]

@@DougieFrank At least with the Geraci comment I know you are just trolling!

[@Seanconroy-t1l]

Eben irish fan. I love ur professionalalisim

[@jakhaughton1800]

A true Jekyll and Hyde! Nice man off the pitch; a brute on it.

[@chrismackerdush7728]

What a treat, thanks RugbyPass

[@kevinwilliams5873]

Very impressed. Eben, nice guy. I thought you where a real bastard from the stuff on the pitch, but not so much. As for the Scottish guy, as an interviewer you are really quite good, surprisingly good. In this interview no sharp entrance to the comments, as you do in the group forum format. A much more polished and professional stile. It is always nice to see someone do something well. If he is alive and kicking can you please interview Jonathan Davies. He is one of the most insightful rugby commentators I have ever listened to. Almost as good as Teddy Atlas.

[@philipevans1027]

Eben as to be the complete player pure agrestion with skill of the game respect to Eben for his strength and fearless game play 👊

[@craigharrison1038]

Really enjoying video Jim. Great to hear from formidable Eben. I love how small people are walking past the two of you.

[@francoisvandermerwe3271]

Boet, hou aan wie jy is en wat jy doen vir ons Suid-Afrikaners, jy maak di land trots maak nie saak waar jy is of vir wie jy speel ni! Groete uit Durbanville, Kaapstad! @Eben

[@Macron87]

Is your keyboard broken?!

[@francoisvandermerwe3271]

@@Macron87 Why? Is the language barrier to much for you to comprehend!?

[@mr.e6748]

@@francoisvandermerwe3271 Sê hom Franna

[@stantutak5579]

He's a champion

[@afriquelesud]

​@@francoisvandermerwe3271Some idgidz cannot use Google Translate. Their keyboards are broken, badly so. 😂😂

[@williebauld1007]

Cracking interview lads, Eben is definitely different than his on field persona

[@jbee9713]

He's definitely the best lock in the world right now. Followed by Maro, but EE is the perfect lock!

[@SouthAfrican_AF]

Itoje is really average, maybe good at club level but really average, and a massive foul liability when it matters most for country. And frankly just EXTREMELY immature for a professional who costs his team more than he benefits them, just like Laws

[@hlomlamakwetu]

best lock in the world and will go down as one of the games all time greats

[@braddaynes6885]

Awesome interview! Great questions Jim! Please keep these fascinating interviews coming 👍

[@cobihillssteyn7975]

Eben you are the best👏👏👏👏👏

[@wot4922]

My fellow South African 👍👊🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@johntrlong]

Fantastic interview. Such a brilliant rugby channel.

[@DonsBeerReviews]

Another great interview. Jim makes a difficult job look easy.

[@shaunswart9857]

Eben is massive !!

[@Josh-Kai2626]

Very good interview! Thanks RugbyPass

[@cullyx2913]

Absolute legend

[@cosifantutte1071]

THE best lock in the world, period.

[@ETime97]

Greatest rugby player period.

[@bjppage1186]

fantastic interview again Jim your doing England proud 😏

[@stephenbrown785]

Want him in my team every day of the week

[@stephenbrown785]

Lovely guy off the pitch beast on the pitch

[@jacquie212]

A pack with danie rossouw, bakkies, Juan Smith, Carl hayman, Sheridan, lobbe, masoe... man that 2012-2013 toloun pack was ridiculous! Backs weren't bad either... That must have been the best club team of all time.

[@SB-th8uc]

Uniquely, that was a superstar side who fronted up and played good Rugby despite the price tags. I agree that it was probably the best club side of all time.

[@cdf2885]

2013-14 team was even stronger

[@MetYsJa]

Bulls of 09 were better

[@seanyshepfit]

Sheridan and Hayman wtf. Good luck scrummaging against those 2 😂

[@Ozzy-jv2sr]

@@MetYsJa that Bulls side was nothing short of a brutally talented side. Brutal front row and quality backs...

[@MichaelX-p8c]

I said to my youngest son, age (38) that if he wore a springbok jersey, he had two small burns and was embarrassed to wear the Jersey. I told him to bring the Jersey to me and I'll repair the holes. I put a number seven (7) on his jersey with a jean that bad orangy/Gold. When he came home just as the quarter final was about to start and I told him to put the Jersey on everytime time we play, FRANCE, ENGLAND AND THE ALL BLACKS. I honestly said and made sure that he was at every game, and I said he will bring a one (1) point victory over the quarter final, one (1) point in the Semi finals and in the finals by one (1) . MY son Will be forced to be with us at every Springboks game wether he likes it or not. I also changed my house globes to green. Well played to the boks but equally well played All Blacks, the two (2) best teams in the world, three world cup apiece, number one (1) and two (2) best in the world, I'm a very proud South Africans tonight and have hope for the future in or country. It's also a wake up call to all the heads of the soccer leage to have multi racial players given a chance to show that you should have changed in that way of thinking, the woman's team are great and on the rise, not like the mens team that only there for the money instead of playing for a rainbow 🌈 nation team and no matter what colour or religion, all South Africans are, at the end we are after all true South African's, all celebrating together as equals whom love our country. ALTHOUGH EVEN JUST FOR THIS WEEKEND, SPORTS IN SOUTH AFRICA CAN CHANGE ONLY WITH EQUALITY FOR ALL, THE. THE BEST PLAYERS FOR EVERY POSITION IN SOCCER. ❤️❤️❤️☮️☮️☮️☮️🤟💯🌈🌈🌈🌈 We need a great country with the best sportsman woman and men equally. Sports and singing can save our country.

[@BonuxCouleur]

At the end of the day Toulon is making a strong come back in this year's Top 14 and what seems to be a u-turn from previous policies. There is another aspect though that Toulon has understood this season, you mentioned the Wilkinson, Botha, Smith, Matfield, Nonu, Habana, Giteau, Niekerk, Hayman, Lobbe and so on... it is the type of squad you should expect results from BUT it is also the type of squad you will never build your IDENTITY from as a club. And that's the difference between Toulouse and Toulon. Both clubs have always been very good at nurturing and developing players but only the Toulouse hopefuls ever became French internationals and some pretty amazing ones with that. Fickou is the proof of that, he is a player made in Toulon but he would never get the game time in Toulon under that very special squad of foreign superstars. This is why Toulon has no identity. Toulouse after a slump went back to square one, they went back to trusting their in-house hopefuls, bought a few more from the nearby region but they never lost this identity. Former players make the coaching squad, they won trophies and it commands respect and creates not only an identity but a very high standard for the club and players. You don't have that in Toulon because none of the superstars are particularly attached to the club. For them Toulon was one (great) box to tick among others. Last time RC Toulon had an identity was back in the 80s with the likes of Herrero, Champ, Gallion, etc. Under coach Bernard Laporte, RC Toulon had no identity whatsoever and the club supplied zero internationals worthy of the national jersey. Today, they are starting to have the right mix but they need more of their hopefuls and very often the French players prove that they can be better than the foreigners, that their club should absolutely trust them. Toulon is only understanding that now, also because Mourad Boudjelal is no longer here to pay the bills so the old model no longer works. Today they have no choice, that's why letting Carbonel leave the club is so heavily criticized with the locals. Toulon needs to start producing French internationals and not only that, they need to give them the game time they need. It is great to have the likes of Etzebeth and Kolbe but look Etzebeth is already leaving the club so you don't get identity out of players like these no wonder how dedicated they are. Toulon needs hopefuls getting to the fore, Toulon needs to follow what Toulouse has always done. And as it stands, Ollivon, Carbonel, Gros, Rebbadj, Ory, Serin, LUC that we should see play for France very soon (amazing fullback but sadly not a goal kicker...) and of course the raging pitbull Villiere, these are the players who will start this necessary rebuild process. Toulon needs an identity to transfer onto the next generation of home grown players, Toulouse has 5x European Titles won by local players, that goes a long way into the identity of the clubs. Toulon has 3x European Titles none of which have been won by local players or players who are still working in the club, so that credential has not been transferred and never will be. They really have to build something that is unique to Toulon now, they can no longer afford to apply Mourad Boudjelal's check book strategy. This is why Toulouse remains the ever lasting reference in French rugby, the quintessence of the French rugby elite. Toulon is a long way from that but they will be without a doubt as long as they get the mix of players and staff right. Players like Etzebeth must serve to make the group more competitive, that's all.

[@blaquenguni9249]

Paragraphs would this a bit more coherent mate. Grwaety points, but reads like a never ending sentence

[@twatnosher]

Top story, needs more dragons

[@DavyBrando]

My dad grew up with Eben’s dad and his uncles, and my brother grew up with Eben and his brothers. By all accounts they’re all as tough as they come, but nice guys nonetheless. What an asset to the team! Looking forward to the Springbok tests this year.

[@ericdavison6186]

Big family? I think eben gets bigger each time I see him )

[@DavyBrando]

@@ericdavison6186 Definitely, haha. I think his uncles represented the Western Cape in wrestling, if I’m not mistaken. Formidable family.

[@afriquelesud]

Skattie picked me up, in a gesture of goodwill, by my neck, when I weighed 105kg.....and used just two fingers!! That was at church one Sunday. 😂. I never knew Skattie's real name but knew him since the 1970's, when I also met Harry.

[@TFARM56]

Eben is the best in the world period

[@harrymilton657]

Great interview

[@krlauf5307]

thanks Jim for this, keep up the good work

[@claytonfisher8458]

Well done 👏🏽👏🏽 love it.. interesting stuff

[@joeritchie2]

Great stuff. Love Jim’s interview strolls with legends past and present. There was a photo of Eben facing off with Alun-Wyn Jones….Has Jim done a 1 on 1 with him? Would love to see that.

[@responsiblerecovery6479]

Very cool interview :)

[@myee8]

Lol at Eben considered a smaller lock in the Toulon side, the man's big enough as it is...

[@blaquenguni9249]

Best player in the world last year. It's a pity Northern Hemisphere rugby fans are clueless about real rugby.(except for French fans) Eben was by far the best international player in the world last year.

[@MetYsJa]

You'll only win a best player award if you perform on the EOYT when the SH teams are tired. Unfortunately world rugby is an old boys club run from London. Same happened to Fourie du preez in 09, orchestrating a SR title, a lions series and 3 wins over the ABs, only to be popped for the title by McCaw, who had missed half the season through injury.

[@blaquenguni9249]

@@MetYsJa I think Sexton even won it a few years ago, at no point in my lifetime has Johnny Sexton ever been the rugby player on the planet.

[@MetYsJa]

@@blaquenguni9249 I doubt sexton was the best player in his neighborhood

[@archiefromcosta1403]

Aye, ebens been deserving of it for a while now though, it always seems like backs and NH teams get the benifit, unfair in my opinion, from a Scotsman

[@peterhughes8699]

Eben wasn't so great when the Wallabies and All Blacks knocked off the Boks. I'd rank 5 in front of him in 2021. And I ain't a Pom either :)

[@garywagner2466]

Interesting interview. Liked the casual stroll format and the ever-changing background. Studio interviews are so deadly dull. Great for folks to be outside after the pandemic lockdowns, but wearing a mask on your chin just tells the world you are a fool. Either wear it properly, or take it off. Thanks for posting.

[@emmettcotter1206]

Jim, if you played like you interview, Scotland would have had a couple of Grand Slams. You're getting the best out of divisive players

[@MetYsJa]

Jim, looking at your size difference, you're a legend for picking a fight with this guy 🤣 Just finished watching and had to add this edit. Jim, your interview skills are excellent. Asking some open ended questions which are really good. But the language barrier is too great with afrikaners. You have to be specific with a saffa, which player do you rate as the hardest. Which team is the one you get up most for. Eben was translating everything you say into afrikaans in his head , and it switches the focus of the question.

[@oliverhunter9495]

Jim’s slimmed down since he’s retired. You see the KZbin footage there isn’t much in the size difference then. Jim was hard hard player mind, Coventry lads are made different

[@2011hwalker]

Hamilton is older and has lost about 15KG since he retired.

[@Faust_ZA]

one of the greatest locks ever*

[@bigyin2794]

Yes, total legend.

[@skiptracerbob]

Eben's not bad, either

[@Faust_ZA]

@@skiptracerbob who do you think im talking about

[@oliverhiston4223]

@@skiptracerbob 😁😜🤣

[@haachitingandu3874]

@@skiptracerbob 😆 🤣 😂

[@karelesterhuizen7117]

Jy is n legend my bra, well done met dit, maak nie saak waar jy speel nie, WC legend. Emile se ook so lol.

[@WalterWhite-sm2dr]

Good episode @ Jim Hamilton

[@wilnamerritt1588]

So sorry to hear about your dad. . . 😢

[@johnnydale6515]

Gentle giant

[@seansmith9936]

Beast 🙌

[@buronwillaims9108]

Fire fire Eben 😎

[@okusawa212]

Never been to the South of France, however to play rugby there must be a real "hardship post" going by the background of this interview.

[@dandan4092]

Yeah difficult to complain about the weather and setting. I think most issues come with the professionalism and style in French rugby

[@seamus9750]

Absolutely brilliant Jim...two hard men chewing the fat...can only happen in rugby 😊

[@fido5067]

Jim you are like a young Larry (king)

[@stanawayLawns]

Most pundits don't seem to think much of perofeta. His speed, slight of hand, first five craftyness make him dangerous. Watch him playing for the blues he's a dangerous player and the speed and ghosting catches defenses out alot

[@eprohoda]

beautiful - :))

[@jonathanmawdesley-thomas1863]

They put Sarries to the sword …. Impressive result

[@TupacTilliDDie]

BEASSSTTT !!!

[@cristiaantitus1969]

Just two giants )6"8) taking a walk lol all the people looking was funny

[@simsnyandeni3828]

Can’t wait to see him in black. 😭😭😭😭

[@Mo-yd8xc]

I was watching that match when Arno Botha got hurt.

[@jameswyatt4443]

Best lock ever

[@INSGIB]

Good grief. He’s excellent. But Johnson, Botha, Eales, Retallick…

[@ecallk5544]

Victor Matfield?

[@jameswyatt4443]

@@ecallk5544 close, but I think Etzebeth is better

[@evinmccoy6827]

"I'll give you a red card now", the new system can only be seen a a paradigm for the control gird we live in today. It surely interferes with the natural flow of the game, building uncertainty and a boring unwarranted control on the out come.

[@Fortune_Favors]

I grew up in the same neighborhood as Eben and his brother, we called him "groot seun"

[@therevelation1125]

Haha. Did you guys see the scuffle between these two on Siyas debut for springboks.

[@DD-RSA]

Ma man

[@MichaelX-p8c]

To the ALL BLACKS ENGLAND, IRELAND, FRANCE, ARGENTINA, AND SOUTH AFRICA, YOU OWE ME NEW FINGERS, I DOUBT I'LL GET MY NAILS BACK AGAIN, YOUR ALL WINNERS , GOD BLESS YOU AND THE PEOPLE SUFFERING EXTREME CONDITION'S IN THE WAR IN UKRAINE/Russia and the PALISTINEANS/Israel war. Let our world get better that everyone can live Free in piece, after all, we are all related and are humans, not the Animals you've become. Animals have extremely pure hearts, humans have become the animals.🤟☮️❤️😎💀🌈ʘ⁠‿⁠ʘ

[@willieboy9782]

You guys make me nervous can you just not sit down and relax ?! Great stuff though thanks keep it up!

[@WinterWeaver]

I like the open air camera and casual feel, but would be nice if it was a bit less shaky, makes me slightly seasick.

[@garthjohnson88]

Nice video. Next time get a camera stabilizer tho!

[@etienneholmes5556]

Dis OOM of MR Bakkies Botha vir jou laaitjie....

[@MetYsJa]

Jys virseker n blou bul

[@mr.e6748]

Eben sou bakkies op sy gat sit man.

[@charbelchamun3962]

Cool

[@seanmcmanus867]

Bloody hell. He’s bigger than big Jim

[@jjvaneck6074]

2 huge guys next to each other, the random people passing by looks so small😂🤦🏻

[@mthunziphakathi4215]

I also hated the live contact Vs team mates. Always led to stupid injuries.

[@ScoobieSwisher7413]

You would think this was filmed ON a boat at sea.

[@kataotr3816]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@smith5796]

Scary man.

[@StaalBurgher0]

Not sure SA being in URC "makes sense" for us to also join 6N. It is quite irrelevant. Time zone sure but... I just dont like it. Unless we play both. There is usually 6-7 matches in June and Autumn series. Only 3 extra games per season 🤣

[@WowzersFun]

Full contact during weekly practice is a pain.

[@handcrafted30]

He makes Jim look skinny

[@kooibono]

No shake of the hands at the end and a bit of the social distancing during the chat, ah well.

[@andre51286]

im saw the pic with connor. eben must 2x his hieght and weight.

[@thesaint8400]

This guy looks like Bruno

[@CG-or1re]

as good as dupont is, i'd probably take etz in my team if i could only pick one player globally.

[@2011hwalker]

dupont is soooo much better than the next best no.9

[@mr.e6748]

@@2011hwalker Only with a team that allows him that kind of freedom. I think if Faf were to play in the French system and Dupont in the South African sysytem, we would be calling Faf the best.

[@tyrusgerlach]

Jim who? HAMILTON i see.

[@stuarthearn9890]

I hate seeing players try to smash others, esp. when others are 20. 30 kg lighter, it never used to happen, Eben, I admire, but Victor never used to do it, neither did Poecock It's not good to try press Eben to reveal who is the best oppo lock, not good at all, but Brodie probs last on the list, Itoje, yes,

[@BTMD-cj7mn]

😎😎