Eben Etzebeth claims he was focused by the Irish media for calling Eire’s gamers “conceited” following the World Cup conflict with the Springboks.
The Springboks are locked and loaded to face Eire for the primary time since final 12 months’s World Cup pool match, which Andy Farrell’s aspect gained 13-8.
That end result took Eire’s successful run in opposition to the Springboks to a few in a row, stretching again to 2017.
Earlier this 12 months, Etzebeth stoked the fireplace for the two-Take a look at sequence in opposition to Eire, by accusing them of displaying conceitedness after the World Cup conflict.
Throughout an look on an episode of The Rugby Pod with Jim Hamilton, Etzebeth mentioned he was shocked by Eire telling the Springboks they might see them within the World Cup remaining after the match.
Etzebeth’s feedback triggered a stir in Eire, however the Springbok lock stood by what he mentioned throughout a press convention forward of the primary Take a look at of the sequence in Pretoria on Saturday.
“Yeah, I’d say the Irish media positively focused me after that incident,” Etzebeth mentioned, referring to his podcast look. “I mentioned what I mentioned.
“I see a variety of them mentioned, ‘How might you rely precisely to that specific amount?’ You clearly give an estimate. It was positively at the very least six or seven and was no more than 20 of them. So, I simply gave an estimate.
“We are going to by no means, after a sport, inform a staff that we’ll see you within the remaining if there’s a lot rugby nonetheless to be performed.
“Perhaps that was their means of claiming that we’re aspect and that we’d make it right through, however folks interpreted what I mentioned unsuitable and took it out of context.”
🫣 “We mentioned take up your positions, all of the Sharks gamers went and stood behind the poles.”
Rassie couldn’t resist having a dig at Eben and the Hollywoodbets Sharks in in the present day’s presser 😂 pic.twitter.com/E80jcU5oTx
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 2, 2024
Saturday’s match will see Etzebeth earn his 121st Take a look at cap, as he closes in on the looks document set by Victory Matfield (127).
“It feels just like the stress will increase, the extra video games that you simply play,” Etzebeth mentioned. “You perceive extra what it’s about, how essential it’s, how large it really is.
“As you grow old, there’s solely so a few years left, so many alternatives that you may get. So each Take a look at that I’m a part of may be very particular to me. It doesn’t matter who you’re enjoying in opposition to. It’s not about who you’re enjoying in opposition to, it’s who you’re enjoying for.
“Once you put on that inexperienced and gold jersey, you give your all to ensure you come off that area as winners.”
Picture: Paul Harding/Gallo Photographs
