Etzebeth EXPOSES Ireland: ‘See you in the Final’

The Rugby World Cup is a tournament where dreams are made and shattered. For the Irish team, their hopes of reaching the final were crushed by a formidable All Blacks side in the quarter-finals. However, Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth suggests that the Irish players may have been guilty of counting their chickens before they hatched.

In a recent interview on The Rugby Pod podcast, Etzebeth disclosed a surprising revelation. After Ireland’s narrow 13-8 victory over the Springboks in the group stage, several Irish players had already set their sights on the final.

“Probably 12 of the 23 Irish players said, ‘See you guys in the final,’ as the teams shook hands,” Etzebeth revealed.

A Costly Miscalculation?

The Springbok star questioned the Irish team’s mindset. He wondered if they had underestimated the challenge posed by the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.

“The draw worked so that we would face France and they would take on New Zealand,” Etzebeth explained. “I thought these guys were making a big mistake by looking past one of the most dominant teams in Test rugby in the last 20 or 30 years.”

Etzebeth, known for his physicality on the field, found it difficult to comprehend the Irish players’ attitude. “I thought, ‘Surely that can’t be the case!’ We would never say that because we knew we had to deliver our very best to beat the French in their backyard.”

All Blacks Prove Their Mettle

The All Blacks, a dominant force in international rugby for decades, proved their class once again in the quarter-final against Ireland. Despite Ireland’s status as the top-ranked team in the world at the time, the All Blacks emerged victorious with a 28-24 win.

Five weeks later, the Springboks faced the All Blacks in the World Cup final. They edged out their rivals 12-11 in a tightly contested match.

Ireland: A Lesson in Humility

Etzebeth’s comments serve as a reminder that success in rugby, or any sport, is never guaranteed. “It’s good to be confident, but you can never be arrogant in this sport,” he warned. “You can experience the best season and then once, or miss one low-barrel, and a guy puts you down on your back world.”

The Irish team may now reflect on their World Cup campaign. They might ponder whether their premature final plans were a sign of overconfidence or a costly underestimation of their opponents.

Regardless, the lesson remains clear: in the high-stakes world of international rugby, humility and respect for one’s adversaries are essential ingredients for success.