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What Etzebeth said in private after Ireland loss shows where Boks are
By Josh Raisey
Ireland may have come away with a 13-8 win over the world champions South Africa in their pool stage meeting on Saturday, but Andy Farrell’s side were unsuccessful in denting the Springboks’ confidence for the rest of the World Cup.
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The top two sides in the world produced a pool stage match for the ages at the Stade de France, which brought all the physicality and ferocity one would expect from the best teams in the world. Despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline, the three-time champions’ confidence has not been shaken in their pursuit of retaining the Webb Ellis Cup.
Jim Hamilton gave an insight into how the Boks were feeling after the match on The Rugby Pod this week, where he revealed a conversation he had in private with Eben Etzebeth.
“Shall I tell you honestly what Eben Etzebeth said to me?” he said to Andy Goode and Andy Rowe. “I just said to him physical game, and he was like ‘we’ll get them again if they make it through.’ If they make it through, that’s what he said.”
This not only exhibits the supreme confidence that Etzebeth and his teammates have at this World Cup, but it also highlights what they think of Ireland’s chances of making it to the final (which is the only occasion where they could meet the Springboks again). Moreover, this perhaps shows what Etzebeth thinks of the All Blacks, who are now Ireland’s likely opponents in the quarter-finals.
Hamilton went on to discuss with Goode which team now has the psychological advantage for the rest of the tournament and whether the loss will affect Jacques Nienaber’s side mentally.
“You talk about the world champions,” he said. “You talk about the second best team, the top two best teams in the world, it’s the psychological part I don’t think affects South Africa. If they get the kicks at goal, if they get that lineout drive going at the end of the game and potentially a different referee, it looks very different. But Ireland have beaten them now. Ireland have beaten the All Blacks in a Test series. Ireland are Grand Slam champions. That’s the one and they’re not going to face them now until the final now.
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“I think South Africa have this arrogance, and rightly so because they’re world champions, that they can beat anyone.”
Goode added: “I think that’s the South African mindset of ‘okay, listen, we lost to Ireland and they took it to us physically’ – they normally beast teams South Africa, but their mentality and mindset is always ‘right, that’s the challenge that has been set, let’s show them what South African rugby is all about.’ They’ll have no problem bouncing back from that, the South Africans, it will actually motivate them more, I reckon.”
On a personal level for Etzebeth, the 120kg lock suffered the ignominy of being picked up and held in the air by Ireland winger James Lowe, which Hamilton said he will feel “embarrassed” about.
“He’s looking at that and he’s embarrassed. He’ll feel embarrassed, he’ll be raging, because that’s the one image that’s come out of that game.”
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Etzebeth is not the only person in the South African camp that remains unruffled after the loss in Paris though. Both head coach Nienaber and captain Siya Kolisi laughed off the question whether their side can still win the World Cup after the match, drawing inspiration from their pool stage loss to the All Blacks in 2019 before going on to win.
At the moment South Africa are playing below par, but only because they don't have a specialist kicker. They missed out on 11 points because they aren't converting tries or scoring the 3 from penalties. I feel like it's an issue Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienabar need to address going forward. However, the South African team are the 3 time world champions, pretty sure New Zealand are the only other team that can make that claim.
Come on you bokke!
It makes no sense, if SA were really serious about a victory, to give two below par kickers such long range attempts : with a dominant line out and maul setup that trashed the Irish. Erasmus and Jacques are the wiliest coaches in world rugby right now by a country mile. They are not at all phased by the loss to Ireland: they gave it to them physically and for Ireland there was no way through except for that long drift pass that exposed a defensive blip by Colby .
Least arrogant South African. Y’all really can’t handle loss well can you? Well you’re gonna have to get used to it
@Nigel bit like your wrist action hey Nigie boy lol
Nigel as good as your team is at the moment they have nothing to show for it, maybe a six nations title or two. Until you win the World Cup Ireland will not have the respect the Boks & AB have in the rugby fertility bearing in mind the Boks played two less World Cups and won two away from home making them the best World Cup contenders of all time. Sorry pel until Ireland holds that cup above their heads they will be known going through a purple patch as they call it in golf, a good side at the time nothing more nothing less.
Wonder if RugbyPass can create 2 sites. One for rugger folk who love the game and really respect opinions and comments. The other site can be for those who...... whatever
OMG.....
Children the lot of you.
Name calling.... Thought I left the childish attitude when i finished school.
As my daddy use to say it aint over till the fat lady sings.
Then say which team is the best or not.
A bit of a nonsense article designed to fuel the kind of childish back and forth comments below. Rather sad that Rugbydump persists in stoking fan conflict and focussing on sensational statements by players and coaches rather than employing writers with some knowledge of the game and a capacity to provide expert insight. What happened to the analysis of attack and defence we got during the Six Nations?
This entire piece is based on a statement by a proud professional athlete who was visibly devastated by the result of the game as he watched on from the bench at the end. If these statements were anything to go by then Eddie Jones already won the World Cup according to the rhetoric he's been employing for months now.
Imagine a professional boxer losing narrowly on points, knowing they likely have another bout in a few weeks' time against the same fighter and throwing in the towel. It wouldn't happen. All this is, is talk. South Africa were blown away at the breakdown, failed to capitulate on Ireland's disastrous lineout, couldn't get behind the Irish first line of defence, turned down opportunities for points and failed to convert the ones they opted to go for.
This leaves the weight of a nation lying firmly on the shoulders of Pollard, an under-cooked and injury prone fly-half who's goal kicking record at World Cups is nothing to write home about either, with Libbock demoted to a bit-part player who's confidence has been dashed.
The whole competition remains in the air with SA, France and Ireland still looking head and shoulders above the rest.
I just hope we can get a bit of balanced journalism on here rather than these fanboy clickbait articles with no substance as we head into the business end of the competition.
It took at least 4 or 5 Irish to keep 1 boer in the air. I love reading all the puerile memes and posts about this. Pathetic.
Reading these comments are both hilarious and saddening. Lots of hate towards to Boks... Only one of two sides to have ever win 3 WC titles. Lots of hoping for them to trip up. Pretty lame to be honest. Ireland vs SA was a great match to watch and people should be praising the two teams, not hoping for either to falter. Would be excellent if they met in the finals.
Re: Faizel... Sounds to me you should consider CBT. Might help your trolling. Maybe show your daughter your posts, I'm sure she would be proud. You probably shouldn't be commenting on mental health.