Eben Etzebeth shows why he is the heart and soul of South Africa

Eben Etzebeth blocks Jack van Poortvliet’s kick. The lock charged down the England scrum-half time and again. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

And repeat. Last weekend, they ventured into the lair of an aspirant team of the north, endured all their hosts could throw at them – “endured”, handled with comfort, more like – and then pulled away from their flailing opponents in the final quarter with an imperiousness that befits their standing as the world’s best.

So they did it again this weekend. South Africa’s win in Edinburgh on Sunday re-established the world champions’ position at the top of the world rankings, although quite how they were not there already defies analysis, given they were champions of the south this year, as well as of the world the one before.