Bitter hosting battle adds spice
IRELAND LOOK TO TAKE FEISTY OFF-THE-FIELD APPROACH ON TO PITCH AGAINST BOKS Confident Coetzee rates Irish as closest match to the mighty All Blacks northern hemisphere has to offer.
The increasingly fractious atmosphere between the Ireland and South Africa bid teams for the right to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup adds an extra edge to their Test match in Dublin today.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt will hope his players lay into the Springboks as robustly as the Irish Rugby Football Union’s CEO Philip Browne did in a letter this week to his World Rugby counterpart Brett Gosper about South Africa’s topping the technical review that puts them in pole position to carry the day in the vote next Wednesday.
Schmidt, though, says he is not going to tell the players of the significance of beating the South Af- ricans on the pitch with regards to the vote although he appeared to relish the thought of landing a blow days ahead of the vote.
“I hadn’t thought about it and I don’t want to put any more pressure on us,” said the New Zealander. “Gee, though, wouldn’t it be great to put a really good performance in and put Irish rugby in the shop window ahead of the vote?”
His South Africa counterpart Allister Coetzee though has paid the Irish the ultimate compliment in where he puts them in terms of northern hemisphere rugby.
“For us it’s (the match) important because we have a huge respect for Ireland,” said Coetzee.
“They are a quality side, and it’s almost close to your All Blacks side in Europe.”
Coetzee, who has made three changes to the starting XV that began in a closely contested affair against the All Blacks last month in their last outing, is especially fearful of the outstanding halfback partnership of Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray.
“The Irish have a world-class halfback pair and their set-piece play is extremely good, so it will be a great battle on Saturday,” said Coetzee, who has managed to get the Springboks back to a better level than the one that limped round Europe last autumn.
“They know how to keep the ball and use a good kicking game to put teams under pressure.”
Coetzee for his part believes that his side will acquit themselves much better this autumn as one major factor has improved.
“To be honest with you, I was personally worried about our conditioning and this time around I don’t have that sort of fear at all,” he said. – AFP
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