Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is not sorry for his comment that Ireland’s players were too confident during the World Cup.
In an interview on Jim Hamilton’s Rugby Podcast, Etzebeth said some Irish players had said they’d meet the Springboks in the World Cup final after their pool stage game in Paris.
Ireland beat South Africa 13-8 in that September clash, their third straight victory against the Boks.
The defeat pushed South Africa into a tough quarter-final against hosts France, which they narrowly won 29-28, while Ireland was beaten by New Zealand 28-24.
“12 out of the 23, when I shook their hands, said to me: ‘See you in the final’,” Etzebeth said on the podcast.
“My immediate thought was: ‘Are these guys seriously not thinking about the All Blacks in a World Cup quarter-final when they’re playing against them?'”
Despite backlash from the Irish media, Etzebeth is standing his ground, “I said what I said.”
“It was definitely not less than six or seven players, but not more than 20. Maybe that was their way to say we’re a good side, and we may make it all the way to the final. It was interpreted out of context.”
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said at the team announcement press conference that the team’s focus is on the upcoming matches and not past comments.
Compiled by Staff Writer
Pictured above: Eben Etzebeth.
Source: Springboks/X
