Lock Eben Etzebeth says the Springboks are eager to rewrite history against Ireland in Dublin, a venue they haven’t won at since 2012.
South Africa’s most capped player will play in his 140th game for the Springboks against Ireland and says the side is looking forward to what they expect to be a good game against a great team.
The last time the two sides met was in a two-Test series during the 2024 Castle Lager Incoming Series, with both sides winning one game each.
Ireland have consistently been ranked as one of the top sides in the world in recent years and it has been 13 years since the Springboks last won in Dublin, so the team has plenty of motivation.
“They’ve been in the top three of the world rankings for the last couple of years, so they are a quality outfit and we are looking forward to this game,” said Etzebeth.
“When we received the calendar at the beginning of the year, this fixture was definitely one that stood out, so we’re excited. It’s going to be a good match. We haven’t won here in a while, so it’s a nice opportunity for us.
Etzebeth is adamant that the 19-16 defeat the last time they played in Dublin will have little bearing on the outcome of the game this weekend.
“This is a completely different challenge. That was over a year and a half ago. A lot can happen in rugby in one week, and many things have changed since then,” he said.
He also believes Ireland are too smart to let the fact that the Springboks have former Ireland internationals in their management and players based at Irish clubs gain them much of an advantage.
“We have quite a few foreigners in our management group, but we don’t see them as such – we see them as part of the Springboks, and we get along very well with all of them,” Etzebeth said.
“And obviously, guys like RG and Jean have more insight into the Irish, but it’s professional rugby, and Ireland will be smart and probably change a few things.”
At the same press conference, Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said Franco Mostert’s disciplinary hearing would happen in the next couple of days, while also revealing that they had decided to appeal Lood de Jager’s suspension as well.
