Such a crime that he never got to wear the Green and Gold. We simply just didn’t have a player like him in those days, and to be honest, we still haven’t seen his like since. Best inside centre our country has ever produced.
Was in the same school as him, 2 years younger. Actually dated his sister for about 4 months, going from primary school to high school, and then her family moved to Boksburg, but Ettiene stayed and lived with one of the teachers. He was a gun back then. To represent SA academy at 16 and then SA Schools at 17 and 18, while playing for a no name school, just shows how much of a beast he was. In fact, that whole first team in 97 was amazing. We won the Transvaal comp, progressing past some big schools and ultimately winning it against Monument in the final. He was destined back then.
Another fabulous collection of tries by a true rugby bloodhound. Who kept him out of the Boks, I wonder? He would have walked into most other national teams.
I can understand Jean De Villiers be a tough opponent to keep out of the Bok side, but for a long time, they picked De Wet Barry over him, which just baffles me...
Imagine him and jaques fourie for the boks. unstoppable. According to my view, the best centre in the world and would have become a Springbok legend (under the Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer era). He would have given Sonny Bill Williams a run for his money in 2011. If he was alive now, he would have been called the superstar of rugby.
I absolutely agree with you. Jean de villiers would’ve been nothing more than a back up player, and that’s not taking anything away from Jean. He was superb for the Boks, but it says more about the rare brilliance of Ettiene. Almost played like a 3rd Flanker, could step anyone in world rugby as if they didn’t exist, had deceptively fast pace and just a bulldozer and near impossible to stop when the try line beckons. He is a legend, and never even needed the Green and gold to affirm it. But oh my, if only he did, and he didn’t have his accident, no doubt he would’ve been the top centre in world rugby at time and have gone down and recognised as one of the best ever to play centre. My heart still hurts. I knew him well.
2 years ago I left a comment here, I see its still the last comment ever. Sad, so sad. Its funny how one career could be ruined by politics and influence. The WP boys were favs right. Did we win anything important with them?
@@gvr6079 one of the saddest days of my life. He is from my town and school and my middle brother has the same name. My mum called me when I lived in London and told me Ettiene passed away in a car accident. For a moment I thought it’s my bro, but then I heard it was him. I was as devastated. He was destined for the green and gold
![OhGeesy x Lefty Gunplay - What It Iz [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/L0yzW9t2ixk/mqdefault.jpg)
Such a crime that he never got to wear the Green and Gold.
We simply just didn’t have a player like him in those days, and to be honest, we still haven’t seen his like since.
Best inside centre our country has ever produced.
He was one of the best centres South Africa produced since Danie Gerber!
@@animekawaiichan9399can’t even remember them, that’s how good they were!
Perhaps the greatest player not to have played for the Boks
Finally het iemand n tribute gemaak van hom. Ek probeer maar altyd die jonger mense van hom vertel, maar is lekkerder om eerder te wys.
Love this. Have to mention Fourie Du Preez's magic at 5:18.
Saw him playing at Loftus as a young boy, he was absolutely electric. He would have been a Bok great if he didn't tragically pass away.
Goosebumps on your comment ❤
Be bleaaed champ🤗❤
Was in the same school as him, 2 years younger. Actually dated his sister for about 4 months, going from primary school to high school, and then her family moved to Boksburg, but Ettiene stayed and lived with one of the teachers.
He was a gun back then.
To represent SA academy at 16 and then SA Schools at 17 and 18, while playing for a no name school, just shows how much of a beast he was. In fact, that whole first team in 97 was amazing. We won the Transvaal comp, progressing past some big schools and ultimately winning it against Monument in the final. He was destined back then.
Exited to watch Him
Another fabulous collection of tries by a true rugby bloodhound. Who kept him out of the Boks, I wonder? He would have walked into most other national teams.
I can understand Jean De Villiers be a tough opponent to keep out of the Bok side, but for a long time, they picked De Wet Barry over him, which just baffles me...
@@RealRugby A preference for brawn over brains at the time. Barry struck me as a thug tbh.
@@peterschuetz8802 he was average at best, I never rated his combo with Marius Joubert
Bobo kept him out.
@@wernertukker5420 nope, it was Barry and De Villiers mostly. Bobo only played a handful of tests
Imagine him and jaques fourie for the boks. unstoppable. According to my view, the best centre in the world and would have become a Springbok legend (under the Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer era). He would have given Sonny Bill Williams a run for his money in 2011. If he was alive now, he would have been called the superstar of rugby.
I absolutely agree with you. Jean de villiers would’ve been nothing more than a back up player, and that’s not taking anything away from Jean. He was superb for the Boks, but it says more about the rare brilliance of Ettiene. Almost played like a 3rd Flanker, could step anyone in world rugby as if they didn’t exist, had deceptively fast pace and just a bulldozer and near impossible to stop when the try line beckons. He is a legend, and never even needed the Green and gold to affirm it. But oh my, if only he did, and he didn’t have his accident, no doubt he would’ve been the top centre in world rugby at time and have gone down and recognised as one of the best ever to play centre. My heart still hurts. I knew him well.
imagine him and danie gerber in a side
You wouldn’t find a better centre combination anywhere
Nice 👍🏻
Hy was die totale pakket. Sou een vd grootstes geword het
Sad that he never became a Bok.
Ek sien nou Ettienne Botha het die meeste van sy drieë met die bal onder sy linkerarm gedruk.
Want hy was ‘n Leftie. Hy het met sy linker voet pale toe geskop op hoerskool
2 years ago I left a comment here, I see its still the last comment ever. Sad, so sad. Its funny how one career could be ruined by politics and influence. The WP boys were favs right. Did we win anything important with them?
This is so sad, 27K subs, 3,6 K views. You people don't know what Rugby is.
Ettienne and Gary, the two most robbed players in SA rugby ever.
wonderlike speler hoed af
Cant remember him.....
He passed away in a car accident while he was playing at the peak of his career.
@@gvr6079 one of the saddest days of my life. He is from my town and school and my middle brother has the same name. My mum called me when I lived in London and told me Ettiene passed away in a car accident. For a moment I thought it’s my bro, but then I heard it was him. I was as devastated. He was destined for the green and gold