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Rassie Erasmus selects Andy Farrell's Ireland matchday 23 for him
With just a few days before the Test between South Africa and Ireland in Pretoria, Rassie Erasmus has turned on the mind games.
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The Springbok head coach took to social media this weekend to try and get into Ireland head coach Andy Farrell’s head.
In a post on X, Erasmus predicted Ireland’s matchday squad for the first of two Tests between the sides in July.
This is class !! Going to be epic 🇿🇦vs 🇮🇪
Next week this time !! pic.twitter.com/OS4DBcuzsQ— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) June 29, 2024
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. MC McCarthy
5. Tadhg Byrne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
9. Craig Casey
10. Jack Crowley
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Gary Ringrose
14. Calvin Nash
15. Jimmy O’Brien
16. Ronan Kelleher
17. Cian Healy
18. Finlay Bealham
19. James Ryan
20. Ryan Baird
21. Nick Timoney
22. Conor Murray
23. Ciaran Frawley
**If 5/3 split:**
– Robbie Henshaw
Erasmus believes Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadgh Furlong will be Ireland’s starting front row with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne in the second row.
The Bok coach has Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris in Ireland’s back row.
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With Jamison Gibson-Park ruled out with an injury, Erasmus is confident that Craig Casey will form a halfback combination with flyhalf Jack Crowley.
According to the Bok boss, Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose will fill the midfield roles, while the back three will consist of James Lowe, Calvin Nash and Jimmy O’Brien.
Erasmus believes Farrell will opt for a six-two bench split between forwards and backs. However, he has bracketed Robbie Henshaw as an option if Ireland go for a five-three split.
The Bok coach also took some time to compare certain stats between the matchday squads ahead of the series.
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And it seems Ireland will be the heavier team next weekend.
Erasmus also hinted at his selection after revealing that his matchday squad will have a total of 1,162 caps.
After the first Test at Loftus Versfeld on July 6, the teams will meet again at Kings Park in Durban on July 13.
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So, Erasmus makes a guess Ireland selection, has nothing but praise for their experience and quality, and the rugby journos spin it as “mind games”.
If Erasmus planted a tree, the headline would say: “Erasmus disrupts local ecosystem”, if he donated to charity, it’d be: “Erasmus flaunts his wealth.”
They really couldn’t hate the guy more if they tried.