South Africa’s double World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth has described Eire’s gamers as ‘conceited’ after revealing they informed him they might meet his crew in final 12 months’s World Cup closing.
On the 2023 event in France, the Springboks had been overwhelmed 13-8 by Andy Farrell’s aspect in what was a pool stage conflict.
Regardless of that defeat, South Africa went on to beat New Zealand within the closing. Eire, in the meantime, had been knocked out on the quarter-final stage by the All Blacks.
Big lock Etzebeth informed The Rugby Pod: ‘Clearly you shake the fellows’ (Eire’s) palms and possibly 12 out of the 23 after I shook the palms informed me “See you guys within the closing”.
‘As a result of we had been going to play France and so they had been going to play New Zealand, my quick thought was, “Are these guys critically not even serious about the All Blacks within the World Cup quarter-final and taking part in in opposition to them?
South Africa star Eben Etzebeth (above) was surprised by the conceitedness of Eire’s gamers
The Springboks had been overwhelmed 13-8 by Andy Farrell’s aspect within the pool stage on the World Cup
‘I used to be identical to these guys are making a giant mistake to look previous in all probability one of the vital dominant groups, or in all probability probably the most dominant crew within the final 20 to 30 years, of Check rugby.
‘I used to be identical to, “Absolutely they will’t?” We’d by no means say that as a result of we knew we had the host nation and we knew we needed to pitch as much as beat France of their yard.
‘It felt like they had been simply so, so assured saying issues like that while you knew you had bought the mighty All Blacks coming in a World Cup quarter-final.
‘It’s good to be assured however you may by no means be conceited on this recreation as a result of that’s the factor about rugby. You’ll be able to have the perfect season and you’ll have one slip-up, or one missed sort out, and a man places you in your arse. That’s the fantastic thing about this recreation – you’re by no means on prime ceaselessly.’
Eire went into final 12 months’s World Cup having overwhelmed New Zealand in a Check sequence within the southern hemisphere in 2022 and having risen to the highest of World Rugby’s rankings.
Their pool stage win over 2019 champions South Africa rubber stamped them as potential international champions in ready however they couldn’t get previous New Zealand.
It stays the case no Eire aspect has received a World Cup knock-out recreation.
After coming via the pool levels as one of many runners-up, South Africa went on to beat France, England and New Zealand within the knock-outs to raise the World Cup for the second straight time.
Eire had been knocked out on the quarter-final stage by the All Blacks on the World Cup final 12 months
Etzebeth’s feedback on Eire will add additional spice to the summer time Check sequence between them and the Springboks which is able to see the 2 greatest sides on the planet go head-to-head.
Eire responded to their World Cup distress by profitable the 2024 Six Nations though they only fell in need of back-to-back Grand Slams on account of a shock defeat by England at Twickenham.
There isn’t a doubt they continue to be a high quality aspect.
‘We wish consistency between World Cups,’ Etzebeth stated. ‘Everyone knows 2027 is the following large one however you do wish to be aggressive. We wish to win one or two Rugby Championships inside this section. We’ve got bought Eire arising. Everyone seems to be speaking about that.’
