In a Boks Unpacked panel session alongside Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger and Hanyani Shimange, Etzebeth named the aftermath of South Africa's 20-18 semi-final loss to New Zealand at RWC 2015 as probably the worst day of his life — a two-point defeat that sent him to sit alone in a toilet cubicle and drove a vow to himself and De Villiers that he'd never feel that way again. On the Erasmus era, Etzebeth's analysis is sharp: the squad's core didn't change dramatically, but Erasmus stripped out the complacency of players content simply to wear the jersey and replaced it with ruthless alignment — if you don't buy in, you don't get picked, full stop. His framing of Erasmus as Michael Scofield from Prison Break — always a step ahead of opponents who think they've got him figured out — is a vivid illustration of how the players experience his preparation. On 2019 vs 2023, Etzebeth rates Japan as the bigger achievement given the absence of expectation, though he acknowledges 2023 carried its own weight of personal milestones and loss.