I had the privilege to play against Cliffie and Skattie. They were as hard as nails, but not dirty players. We became buddies years later. May their souls rest in peace. Most of their fights were to protect pals who looked for trouble. Both of their deaths were totally unexpected.
Good video Matt. You could do a good video on Etzebeths predecessor for the Springboks, Bakkes Botha. He was the Springboks enforcer for over a decade.
Botha was a slightly inferior athlete to Eben, but a significantly more willing enforcer. Etzebeth does a lot of collar grabbing and shouting but doesn’t actually do a lot of fighting. Botha could start a fight in a phone booth (assuming he could fit into one).
played against Cliffie in 92. Hamiltons against Villagers. Went for a run, at hooker, around the back of the lineout... Biggest hit I ever got was from Cliffie.. Ran straight at him. It was his timing that I remember... Threw himself at my chest area at the ball, thundered. I remember seeing both my boots in the air. Winded and hurt, but carried on.... Will go down as my top 3 biggest hits ever received. A very hard man.
The picture of him with Connor McGregor is crazy looking .Connor looks like a wee boy Matt. Lived seven years in South Africa they have some big boys Matt.Respect from Davie in Glasgow 🎉
Nice one Matt. Interestingly, Eben was one the the gents who walked out with Dricus Du PLessis in his match against Israel Adesanya. The commentators were dumbstruck at his physical size. Hello from Johannesburg.
Another awesome video Matt you really do do this very well Such a lovely genuine down to earth guy that’s why you have such a good following, you should really be proud of yourself I can’t praise you enough, love and Peace brother ❤️🙏
Mr. Legg I have seen a few Rugby games in NYC and Boston it sure is a rough game. American football must've been based on Rugby but they added Helmets and Pads to avoid injuries but in my opinion the pads and Helmets create more Injuries. Good Show Mr. Legg
It is derived from rugby, its understood that a game of quote football between magill university and harvard uni in 1874 was the first tu play to the rules of what was then rugby union, and it diverged from there. but its roots are still present into the modern game of AF, the term line of scrimmage, = scrum, is a clear example of this
@@Enoch940 totally, back in the day when i was playing, we had a couple of americans come down to the club, big lads both of them, but had no idea how to use it, no pads or helmet really freaked them out, then you could get right inside their heads
@@Enoch940 never backed down from a fight in my long life, @Enoch940. I'm 75 and could still go face to face with any man even you. I don't believe in stereotypes, there is always someone tougher and wants to test others. This Internet makes Fake tough guys act like real tough guys , fake keyboard tough guys would cower if they had to square off with a Real Hard Man, So go home to Mummy sonny and have your breakfast and sleep in the cellar Vinnie "Irish" Green
sweet video matt, being an aussie i love the rugby content, ill be cheering you on to a mil subscribers and beyond mate can tell your a genuine stand up guy, you engage with your audience and in all honesty youve uplifted me a few times when i wasnt happy with things in my life with your positve messages about fitness, mental health and keeping drinking to a minimum👍🤘🥊
Being south African, having played rugby through school and club and a huge Bokke supporter, this was a great video mate. Eben is a monster just like the man mountain Bakkies Botha (our orignal enforcer). You ever heard of a boxer named Brian Mitchell from South Africa?
Great Video Matt, great research. Rugby is a great sport, with some truly hard men, but also a great deal of sportsmanship . I coached at grassroots Rugby, under 9 to start loved every minute. Hope your well take care 👊👊
The dumbell story is brilliant ... 65kg but him and his friend taped 5kg plates either end ,, resulting in the club ordering heavier dumbells ,, he certinaly is an incredible athlete 👊👊enjoyed this Matt👏👏👏
Did you know? The tailors that make the blazers for the Springboks have (like all professional tailors) pattern-cuts they use as base. When Etzebeth came along, they had to make a complete new pattern-cut because of his upper-arms.
Good evening matt hope your well big fella , my apologies I've missed couple vids been having alot of health issues but I'm slowly getting back to normal and will be doing my channel again, anyway glad to see such a nice decent guy doing well , your one of the good ones who I've got alot of respect for..god bless to you and your family ..❤🤝🥊👍
When Bakkies Botha retired, I worried about that position for the Boks but Eben was there and went on to be even better, Bakkies lost his mind at times but Eben clearly showed more discipline. A great Springbok.
I remember Cliffie being dropped by Western Province for a nightclub brawl on a team night out back in the 70s. BTW Bakkies Botha, the enforcers enforcer way a nightclub bouncer before making it in rugby.
My son started playing for the Springboks last year, Eben was one of the guys who really helped settle him into the group. Top fella, hard as nails family! Much respect from Cape Town! Nick
Fun fact When eben was 21 the stormers had to get bigger weights in the gym as he was tieing weights together he was that strong. His family was super tough. His 1 Uncle cliffie especially was mental street fighter Great vid mate
This story is missing what really was going on during the late 70ties, the Etzebeth brothers was ruling Cape Town nightlife that time, if you go to a bar you was hoping not to see them, if you had some small disagreement with a girl before she can go to one of them and boy they wont forget your name. When they found you the youngest (Skattie) will start talking to you and than the big one will come.
He wasn't a trouble maker, but he certainly had a reputation as a fighter, and someone who wasn't to be messed with. And like I said in the video, he was good man . Thank you for the message 👍🥊
Ja hulle het. The bars in the Goodwood and Parow areas at that time were all exclusively "whites only,and predominantly afrikaner. They moered alot of "boere" mate.
@@mattlegg1976love your content Matt .The valleys rugby was crazy back in the day even the spectators used to join in ! Good times .You will get a brilliant welcome salt of the earth people !
Yeh. Until he met Billy Vunipola. Billy fattened Eben head-on. Left him dazed on the deck. Eben had to go off. Billy V just looked at Eben, raised his eye-brows and walked away. Eben is a bully-boy. As an enforcer he is nothing compared to Esteve, Cholley, Sir Colin, Jerry Collins, or Martin Johnson: imo. Those five men really did mean business. For me, after watching rugby for over 60 years those five were brutally tough, un-compromising hurters of other tough men.
Come live in safrica and find out what tough means, rich pampered first worlder not giving any credit to safricans. You people don't have the slightest clue. All those guys would shite themselves spending an hour in places in safrica outside of tourist zones😂😂😂
good program you've got here, mate.........Eben is well respected by us Kiwi fans of the game...all those big hard bastards are,
Yeah, we feel the same about you rough tough buggers mate.
Thank you very much 🥊👍
Really like your varied and honest appraisals of boxers, street fighters, and now rugby players, keep it up.
Thank you very much. I always try to keep it honest and fair.
🥊👍
Some unit this fella great vid mate
Thank you Ben 🥊👍
I had the privilege to play against Cliffie and Skattie. They were as hard as nails, but not dirty players. We became buddies years later. May their souls rest in peace. Most of their fights were to protect pals who looked for trouble. Both of their deaths were totally unexpected.
Good video Matt. You could do a good video on Etzebeths predecessor for the Springboks, Bakkes Botha. He was the Springboks enforcer for over a decade.
Was thinking the exact same thing.
Botha was a slightly inferior athlete to Eben, but a significantly more willing enforcer. Etzebeth does a lot of collar grabbing and shouting but doesn’t actually do a lot of fighting. Botha could start a fight in a phone booth (assuming he could fit into one).
Bothas head was like a 20bob cabbage
Really enjoyed that Matt. I've always admired Eben as a player. Didn't know about his uncles legacy.
played against Cliffie in 92. Hamiltons against Villagers.
Went for a run, at hooker, around the back of the lineout... Biggest hit I ever got was from Cliffie.. Ran straight at him. It was his timing that I remember... Threw himself at my chest area at the ball, thundered. I remember seeing both my boots in the air. Winded and hurt, but carried on.... Will go down as my top 3 biggest hits ever received. A very hard man.
The picture of him with Connor McGregor is crazy looking .Connor looks like a wee boy Matt. Lived seven years in South Africa they have some big boys Matt.Respect from Davie in Glasgow 🎉
I saw that, lol. He's a Giant. 🥊👍💪
Nice one Matt. Interestingly, Eben was one the the gents who walked out with Dricus Du PLessis in his match against Israel Adesanya. The commentators were dumbstruck at his physical size. Hello from Johannesburg.
Awesome Video Matt 💯 best ive seen of Eben and thanks for sharing his uncles stories👌
Ah thank you very much Anthony 👍🥊
Another cracking video Matt.
By far my favourite RUclips channel !!
I really appreciate that. Thank you Sam 👍🥊
Another awesome video Matt you really do do this very well
Such a lovely genuine down to earth guy that’s why you have such a good following, you should really be proud of yourself
I can’t praise you enough, love and Peace brother ❤️🙏
Thank you very much Roger. I appreciate your messages 🥊❤️
Brilliant video, Matt. Had no idea about Etzebeth’s family. No surprise he’s such a physical force learning of this 👍
Thank you. Yes they were respected and feared 🥊👍💪
I was saying to people up here in 2012 this Player is going to be the Best lock and that Stormers team was stacked with future World Cup winner's
Thanks for the video Matt you did a great job.
Thank you very much Mark 🥊👍
We are all massive rugby fans in our house but rugby league not union but we still found this another fascinating watch.
Great presentation again, mate. I was in ZAF numerous times back in the past decade, they all wanted to talk about rugby.
Thank you Michael 👍🥊
Another great video Matt,enjoyed it.
Thank you Stephen. Glad you liked it 👍🥊
Mr. Legg I have seen a few Rugby games in NYC and Boston it sure is a rough game. American football must've been based on Rugby but they added Helmets and Pads to avoid injuries but in my opinion the pads and Helmets create more Injuries. Good Show Mr. Legg
Thank you very much for the message. Yes I'd be interested to know the stats on that .
All the best, and thank you. 👍🥊
It is derived from rugby, its understood that a game of quote football between magill university and harvard uni in 1874 was the first tu play to the rules of what was then rugby union, and it diverged from there. but its roots are still present into the modern game of AF, the term line of scrimmage, = scrum, is a clear example of this
Americans are a softer species , loud but back down easily. I played both sports till age 24 years. Thank you.
@@Enoch940 totally, back in the day when i was playing, we had a couple of americans come down to the club, big lads both of them, but had no idea how to use it, no pads or helmet really freaked them out, then you could get right inside their heads
@@Enoch940 never backed down from a fight in my long life, @Enoch940. I'm 75 and could still go face to face with any man even you. I don't believe in stereotypes, there is always someone tougher and wants to test others. This Internet makes Fake tough guys act like real tough guys , fake keyboard tough guys would cower if they had to square off with a Real Hard Man, So go home to Mummy sonny and have your breakfast and sleep in the cellar Vinnie "Irish" Green
Cool video mate,bit left field but all the better for it.Eben is a beast among beasts. Nice one 👊🫶🇬🇧
Nice one, thank you 🥊👍🏈
Brilliant coverage. Many thanks
Thank you Jane, I hope you're good 👍🥊
sweet video matt, being an aussie i love the rugby content, ill be cheering you on to a mil subscribers and beyond mate can tell your a genuine stand up guy, you engage with your audience and in all honesty youve uplifted me a few times when i wasnt happy with things in my life with your positve messages about fitness, mental health and keeping drinking to a minimum👍🤘🥊
Ah thank you Dave. Im really happy if I've helped in any way.
Thank you for saying.
I hope you're good, and I hope you have a Happy New Year 👍🥊
🇿🇦 thank you Matt!
Excellent video Matt,true proper old school sportsmen,tough but gentlemanly great video and back story pal best wishes regards Jay and Cathy 👍
Great videos Matt. I really appreciate your work. 👍🏻
Thanks for video Matt 👍
Being south African, having played rugby through school and club and a huge Bokke supporter, this was a great video mate. Eben is a monster just like the man mountain Bakkies Botha (our orignal enforcer). You ever heard of a boxer named Brian Mitchell from South Africa?
Love the Rugby videos, what a unit 😅
Keep up the good work Matt keep up the fight and good luck and god bless you.
Thank you Paul 🥊👍
Great video Matt, cheers.👏
Thank you John 🥊👍🏈
He’s a beast!! Love watch Etze he’s a great teammate as well he protective af!! A great brother t ok have on your side not against lol
Great Video Matt, great research. Rugby is a great sport, with some truly hard men, but also a great deal of sportsmanship . I coached at grassroots Rugby, under 9 to start loved every minute. Hope your well take care 👊👊
Ah brilliant Stuart, nice one mate, you must have a love of the Sport 👍
And thank you for the message 🥊
@@mattlegg1976 I love Sport Matt, Cioached football and Instructed Karate. Love Boxing or should I say most sports 👍🤣
Another good one Matt. 👍
Thank you Juston, I hope you're well 👍🥊
😂😂😂 as a Kiwi he’s a beast.even his name sounds like a weapon..
🤣👍🥊 Thank you for the message Garrie.
Love this kind of stuff, not a Rugby fan so never heard of him so it's nice have these quick informative videos.
Keep em coming, Matt. 👊👊👍👍
Brilliant, thank you for watching Craig 🥊👍🏈
Great video big man❤
Thank you 🥊❤️
Another great vid,💥 cheers ❤🤜
Brilliant piece, mate. 💯
Nice vid Matt
Thank you Shaun 🥊👍
Great vid mate 👍🏾
COOL stuff once again Matt nice one mate
Thank you Michael 👍🥊
@@mattlegg1976 Your welcome
Cool up load brilliant 👏 all the best matt
Great video mate. V interesting
Thank you Greg. I hope you're well and is your Mum ok? X
@ we’re ok brother x
The dumbell story is brilliant ... 65kg but him and his friend taped 5kg plates either end ,, resulting in the club ordering heavier dumbells ,, he certinaly is an incredible athlete 👊👊enjoyed this Matt👏👏👏
Yeah that was crazy, lol
Thank you for the message as always 👍🥊
Did you know? The tailors that make the blazers for the Springboks have (like all professional tailors) pattern-cuts they use as base. When Etzebeth came along, they had to make a complete new pattern-cut because of his upper-arms.
@@kobusg7460 😂😂😎👊👊brilliant
Top video again.
Good evening matt hope your well big fella , my apologies I've missed couple vids been having alot of health issues but I'm slowly getting back to normal and will be doing my channel again, anyway glad to see such a nice decent guy doing well , your one of the good ones who I've got alot of respect for..god bless to you and your family ..❤🤝🥊👍
When Bakkies Botha retired, I worried about that position for the Boks but Eben was there and went on to be even better, Bakkies lost his mind at times but Eben clearly showed more discipline. A great Springbok.
He would be a nightmare for any hard man to come up against
Great video Matt, Eben is a beast but he never takes liberties on the pitch, he's all about fair play and an absolute gent away from the pitch.
Awesome mate
Nice one David. Thank you mate 🥊👍
I remember Cliffie being dropped by Western Province for a nightclub brawl on a team night out back in the 70s. BTW Bakkies Botha, the enforcers enforcer way a nightclub bouncer before making it in rugby.
Thank you for the info on Cliffie.
And yes I've got Bakkies Botha on my list of future videos 👍🥊
The man is a beast!!
In the best possible way 😁😊
Brilliant matt
Big old fella
Thank you Ben. Yeah he's a giant 💪🏈
Lovely Matt...
Thank you Nick 🥊🏈
My son started playing for the Springboks last year, Eben was one of the guys who really helped settle him into the group. Top fella, hard as nails family! Much respect from Cape Town! Nick
nice, would have been cool to hear some of the stories
Thank you. It was hard to track down to be honest.
👍🥊
Good video m8
Thank you mate 👍🏈🥊
Unit for sure
Nice piece Matt they build them tough in SA
Love it
Thank you for watching 🥊👍
The Etzebeth family are well known. When they walked into a pub or club, those who were lucky enough, left. Others not so lucky.
Yes they seem to be very well known. Good to hear from people in the know. Thank you 👍🥊
I would not mess with Cliffie and Scattie.
Goon Gods on 🔥
Fun fact When eben was 21 the stormers had to get bigger weights in the gym as he was tieing weights together he was that strong. His family was super tough. His 1 Uncle cliffie especially was mental street fighter Great vid mate
That's right, I heard that. Thank you for the message 👍🥊
Actually when he was 19 and he was for him and Kitshoff.
That’s just due to that gym not being proper and set up correctly. NFL players are brutally strong and have the proper gyms for their players.
@@CalvinK225 hahahahahahaha
That’s my dad!
Ah nice one, thank you for leaving a message. 🥊🏈
This story is missing what really was going on during the late 70ties, the Etzebeth brothers was ruling Cape Town nightlife that time, if you go to a bar you was hoping not to see them, if you had some small disagreement with a girl before she can go to one of them and boy they wont forget your name. When they found you the youngest (Skattie) will start talking to you and than the big one will come.
Ah wow! Thank you for the message, it's always good to hear from people who were there👍🥊
See that guy try and scratch his eyes 😂😂😂😂 woman
captain of the Aussie team.....tried a bit of biff on Eben off the ball .......not a good idea .. got properly savaged....
Can you do Legend off gladiators next?
I'll have a look 👍🥊
Imagine him running at you at speed! 😬😅
Good video, but you can't have a Eben video without giving props to Bakkies Botha (the original enforcer) as well
Thank you, I've got Bakkies on my list for a future video. 👍🥊
Ebon a proper enforcer!!
Imagine facing Etzebeth,Bakkies Botha and Schalke Berger on the same pitch. “ Think I’ve done me hamstring gaffa”😂
🤣🤣🥊🏈
And Uli Schmidt or James Dalton....plus Richard Loe....
I always imagine an alternate reality where Eben went the MMA route and absolutely destroyed everyone in the UFC as a heavy weight
Yeah he could have had what it takes definitely 👍🥊
Good one, mate! Crack on!
Alright matt great vid how's the training going. 🤙🦊
I love how he takes it to the New Zealand players. They seem like a-holes.
He was very protective of his team mates 🥊
@mattlegg1976 I like your channel. Very interesting stuff.
They are mate😂
His uncle was not a streetfighter,he just did not take crap from anybody a genle giant
He wasn't a trouble maker, but he certainly had a reputation as a fighter, and someone who wasn't to be messed with.
And like I said in the video, he was good man .
Thank you for the message 👍🥊
Tough smaller Springbok worth mentioning, Bismark Du Plessis.
Hi, yes definitely, I've got him on my list 👍🏈
👊💥🥊♥️🥊💥👍
Grew up in South Africa well aware of this guy plus some other “nasty pieces of work “ tbh
🥊🏈 👍
🥊🥊🥊
Elizabeeeeetttty
1:11 ... wrong way
i think Cliffie was a policeman
Also got man handled by ardie savea 😂
Everyone gets it at some point, that's the nature of the sport. Nobody is invincible 👍🥊
Hulle het nog nie in 'n Boer vas geloop nie.
🥊👊
Ja hulle het. The bars in the Goodwood and Parow areas at that time were all exclusively "whites only,and predominantly afrikaner. They moered alot of "boere" mate.
You need to come to Welsh valleys and find out about all the hard players that played in the amateur years.People like Chris Huish called the Madman.
Definitely Paul. I was hoping to get over at some point. Merthyr Tydfil is on my list 👍🥊
@@mattlegg1976love your content Matt .The valleys rugby was crazy back in the day even the spectators used to join in ! Good times .You will get a brilliant welcome salt of the earth people !
Total underachiever
Always there and there abouts when things get heated. Wondering if he is not an instigator and thug.
One of your best posts matt just getting better and better
Thank you Fred 🥊🏈👍
He seems to back his teammates up a lot 👍🏈🥊
Yeh. Until he met Billy Vunipola. Billy fattened Eben head-on. Left him dazed on the deck. Eben had to go off. Billy V just looked at Eben, raised his eye-brows and walked away. Eben is a bully-boy. As an enforcer he is nothing compared to Esteve, Cholley, Sir Colin, Jerry Collins, or Martin Johnson: imo. Those five men really did mean business. For me, after watching rugby for over 60 years those five were brutally tough, un-compromising hurters of other tough men.
Come live in safrica and find out what tough means, rich pampered first worlder not giving any credit to safricans. You people don't have the slightest clue. All those guys would shite themselves spending an hour in places in safrica outside of tourist zones😂😂😂
Nonsense the man is as tough as nails . Jerry Collins seems to have become something of a myth since he died. Before that he was barely heard of .
Martin Johnson ?he was scared stiff of Scott Quinell just like the rest of the English forwards.
Never happened again...
@@thewatcher8345 ?
Great player..our Ireland Rugby team defeated South Africa 3-38 and Etzeben was playing in that match.
Really! What a win Simon 🏈💪
before the Rassie Era
The Marais brothers were Cliffie & Skattie's worst nightmares back in the day....
Its Normal hahaha behaviour just try not to start swinging 😊
👍🥊😀