Handre Pollard paid tribute to Eben Etzebeth as “one of the ultimate Springboks” as the towering lock prepares to go equal Victor Matfield as South Africa’s most-capped player on Saturday.

Etzebeth will equal Victor Matfield’s Bok record of 127 Test appearances if the legendary enforcer takes the field in the Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in Santiago del Estero.

The centurion has been named on the bench for the match, as fit-again Salmaan Moerat will captain the Springboks, with Siya Kolisi rested.

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This will set Etzebeth up to set a new record when the Springboks tackle Los Pumas in the return match in the final round of the tournament in Nelspruit.

“What Eben’s doing – and I would say going to do going forward because he’s not stopping anytime soon – is unbelievable,” Pollard said.

“Playing at this level, to get 50 games is special. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment. To get to 100 is just unbelievable and to do what he’s doing is something that we’ve never seen in the past.

“I am very, very proud to be associated with Eben. He is one of the ultimate Springboks ever. He loves the Springboks, maybe just second to his family. His work rate, work ethic, week-in and week-out, he is always training hard, always helping the team, always putting the team first.

“It takes a special person to do that. If he equals it this weekend and breaks it next week in Nelspruit, it will be a very special day.”

Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

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Src: sarugbymag.co.za