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Wed 14 Oct 2015 | 12:29
Eben Etzebeth reacts to journalist asking 'Stupid Question' about nickname

9
Comments

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth wasn't too amused when asked at a press conference if he had any nicknames relating to comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's characters. The Crowd Goes Wild's James McOnie was responsible for the wind up, that implied the Bok enforcer looks like Bruno.

Various media reports misquoted the story but here you can see footage, in which 23-year-old Etzebeth didn't know who the Kiwi was talking about. He turned to teammate Trevor Nyakane, asking in Afrikaans, "Who is that?" to which Nyakane said he doesn't know.

In a moment reminiscent of Sebastien Chabal's 'We are in France, we speak French' interview in 2007, Etzebeth then plainly answers 'No', before commenting that it was a stupid question.

Etzebeth starts for the Springboks against Wales in the World Cup Quarter Final on Saturday.

Here's the report from The Crowd Goes Wild, featuring Etzebeth and the Springbok camp

Posted By: Grant Constable

9 Comments

  • drg
    1:23 PM 16/10/2015

    Wasn't a US player (or Canadian) red carded for the same sort of 'impact'..

  • eddie-g
    4:18 PM 15/10/2015

    I think he looks more like Bruno, but agree he bottled the question. Still waiting to see if someone can rise to the Stroudos challenge!

  • stroudos
    3:21 PM 15/10/2015

    The kid could show the Japanese centre that "tackled" Tuilagi how to get his head on the right side, at least.

    Classic barnstorming run from Johnson. Love the way he feigned to step him then just went straight at him.

    How some people claim they wouldn't want this man in charge of the UK is mind-boggling. Surely this is exactly the type of leadership we need .

  • jimmy23
    11:57 AM 15/10/2015

    Haha I called it!!

  • katman
    10:10 AM 15/10/2015

    Off topic - If Tuilagi got 5 weeks for his knee charge, then Boris Johnson should get at least 10 weeks for demolishing this little kid:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYZ-Aidn8oo

  • drg
    9:35 AM 15/10/2015

    Yeh, that was a bit awkward. Like everyone has said, if you're going to come across as a funny bloke and ask this question then just do it... I can see where Bruno comes from, but not "borat" or "Ali g".

    Like up there, I don't think the players enjoy these conferences so much at the best of times..

  • badge
    10:18 PM 14/10/2015

    Well that was awkward. Also, to be honest, I don't think he looks like Cohen. Its a shame they couldn't have spoken a bietjie afrikaans for the guy to clear it up, probably would've been a different reaction.

  • katman
    7:48 PM 14/10/2015

    It is a bit of a stupid question, and it's poorly phrased. If you're asking a left-field question to someone who doesn't speak English as a first language, then just spit it out straight and simple.

  • eddie-g
    7:17 PM 14/10/2015

    Here's what I love about the reporting of this. Fair play for the NZ joker for crashing the presser and asking his wind-up question. That takes some balls, especially with a bloke like Etzebeth who's a fricken beast.

    But a couple of things are pretty obvious; firstly, Etzebeth doesn't really understand the question. He also soon realises he's the butt of a joke - notice all the laughter in room. And he basically rolls his eyes and brushes off the question. Like most players, he probably hates pressers and especially isn't keen if there are people simply wasting his time, but he deals with the "stupid question" and moves on.

    In short, there's no story here. Until you read the antipodean papers, where apparently Etzebeth is SEETHING or INFURIATED or FUMING at the prankster.

    Nice try, down-under people. I'm glad to see you have ways of amusing yourselves, other than jacking off to sheep porn of course.

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