South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth clashes with Scotland’s James Ritchie during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match at the Stade de Marseille, France. Picture date: Sunday September 10, 2023. Photo: Backpagepix
Eben Etzebeth gets his due respect from Ireland star
Eben Etzebeth has earned massive praise from his upcomimg opponent in Ireland’s towering lock James Ryan.
South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth clashes with Scotland’s James Ritchie during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match at the Stade de Marseille, France. Picture date: Sunday September 10, 2023. Photo: Backpagepix
Ireland’s lineout steal king James Ryan believes that he has what it takes to mix it with the best in the world in the second row in Eben Etzebeth.
Ryan will team up with Taidg Beirne in the Irish second row to face Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert, the Springboks starting locks.
James Ryan key for Ireland
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Ryan is an underrated presence in this Ireland side but he has backed himself to take on the best.
“I think he’s pretty much the complete second row,” Ryan said of Etzebeth.
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“He’s got a good work rate, a good set-piece player, he’s very good in the air in terms of lineout defence and has a great feel for the game.
“So, obviously a huge player for them. They have a history of producing great locks, so he’s probably the latest.
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“You’ve obviously got huge respect for them but I think big games are about making sure you impose yourself on the game.
“So, yeah, respect them and understand their strengths and everything.
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“But you’ve got to bring it back to yourself and make sure that you prepare well and get all your bits right so that you can put in a good account of yourself.”
No fear of ‘Nuke squad’
Ryan said that the seven Springboks waiting on the bench won’t be living in his head rent free.
“It genuinely wouldn’t cross my mind a whole lot.
“Like, you have enough to worry about. When you are on the pitch, you don’t really notice what subs the opposition are bringing on. So, yeah, it genuinely wouldn’t really cross my mind a whole lot.”
“We’d back our own fitness, absolutely. There’s a big emphasis on our own bench – we always say to make an impact. Yeah, I think we’re fit, we’re in good shape, we’re excited.
“We can’t control what other teams do with their bench, or with their substitutions and that’s external stuff. We’re all about controlling the controllables.”
