Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth, who increased his Test cap tally to 139 against France two weeks ago, said the Boks are looking forward to Saturday’s Castle Lager Outgoing Tour showdown against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium and added that it would be a “nice opportunity” to try to change their fortunes in Dublin, where they last won a Test in 2012.
The teams last met in South Africa in the Castle Lager Incoming Series in July 2024, with each side winning one game, but Etzebeth said facing Ireland at home was a completely different challenge against a “great team”.
“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 brushed off suggestions that their 19-16 defeat against Ireland in Dublin in 2022 would motivate them to avenge that result, with the most experienced player in South African rugby history saying: “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.”
When quizzed about the influence the Irish-based players RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn, and Bok assistant coaches Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery – both of whom played Test rugby in Emerald Green, have had in preparing the team for the clash, Etzebeth said while they may have extra insight into the Irish way of doing things, the hosts would not be caught out by that.
“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,” said Etzebeth.
“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.”