Earlier this year, Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth made headlines with his comments on The Rugby Pod with Jim Hamilton, where he accused Irish players of displaying arrogance after their World Cup pool stage victory over South Africa.
Etzebeth recalled that many Irish players seemed overly confident about reaching the final, claiming that “12 of the 23” Irish players told him they would see the Springboks in the final while shaking his hand after the game. He suggested this attitude showed they were overlooking their upcoming quarter-final clash with the All Blacks, a match Ireland eventually lost.
Eben Etzebeth Sticks to His Guns
As the Springboks prepare for a highly anticipated rematch against Ireland at Loftus this weekend, Etzebeth remains firm in his stance, despite criticism. During a recent press conference, he addressed the backlash and insisted he hadn’t misinterpreted the situation.
“I said what I said. After the game, many of them made that comment. Whether it was exactly 12 or not, it was definitely a significant number,” Etzebeth stated. “We would never tell an opponent we’ll see them in the final right after a game. There’s still a lot of rugby to be played.”
Andy Goode Weighs In
Former England flyhalf Andy Goode responded to Etzebeth’s remarks on a subsequent episode of The Rugby Pod, expressing skepticism about the Springbok’s account.
“Was he surprised by what he thought he heard? I’m going to call him out,” Goode said. “I call bulls***. You’re not counting to 12 or 13 right after a game.”
Goode suggested that if anything was said, it was likely along the lines of “Hopefully, see you in the final,” implying mutual respect rather than arrogance. He questioned the feasibility of Etzebeth accurately remembering how many players made the comment in the heat of the moment.
“What I think they probably said is, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’ because the Irish are good people. There’s no way they meant it arrogantly, and it’s been blown out of proportion,” Goode concluded.
As the rematch approaches, Etzebeth’s comments add an extra layer of intensity to what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
