Acclaimed ex-Springboks Captain Excited for Intense South Africa vs. Ireland Series
Acclaimed ex-Springboks captain Bob Skinstad is relishing the intense build-up to the highly anticipated series between South Africa and Ireland, as both sides engage in a war of words.
The hosts have been the primary aggressors, with players like Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe, and Damian de Allende stoking the flames. Head coach Rassie Erasmus further ignited the mind games by predicting Andy Farrell’s team, while Etzebeth claimed he was “targeted” by the Irish media.
“The nicest thing about a rivalry is it grows and it ebbs and flows according to results,” he told SENZ.
Both teams have something to prove, with South Africa seeking to end their winless streak against Ireland since 2016, while the visitors aim to overcome their quarter-final woes at the World Cup. As Skinstad explained:
“It’s like an argument with your wife. You want to have a beer with your mates, she wants you to stay home and they are two different things but we’ve matched them together.”
Ireland have had the better of the Springboks in recent encounters, winning the past three matches, including a narrow 13-8 victory over the world champions at the 2022 Rugby World Cup. However, Skinstad believes the Boks’ series triumph in 2016 shows Ireland can overcome the hosts on their own soil:
“Ireland have been to South Africa and beaten South Africa, why would they not think they could do it again?”
The stage is set for a thrilling series, with both sides eager to prove their worth. As Skinstad aptly put it:
“It’s going to be a real out-and-out… someone said it’s a ‘war’ when these teams are playing each other and that’s fantastic. That’s what you want.”
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