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'They're just hard b******s! They don't pick soft players'
Former Ireland back-rower Alan Quinlan has described the Springboks as “hard b******s” and tipped them to beat Andy Farrell’s No1-ranked Irish by six points on Saturday night in Paris. The heavyweight Pool B meeting at Stade de France between the team unbeaten since July 2022 and the defending champions from 2019 has become the talk of the Rugby World Cup outside of Thursday night’s injury to France skipper Antoine Dupont.
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Ireland come into the fixture having beaten Romania and Tonga in recent weeks, while the Springboks got their campaign going with wins over Scotland and Romania.
There have been multiple predictions in recent days about how the clash will pan out and the latest to join the debate is former Irish forward Quinlan, who featured twice for his country when they were beaten in the two-game series in South Africa in 2004.
Speaking about the latest Rugby World Cup odds, Quinlan wasn’t shy with his description of the Springboks. “It’s like playing against a really confrontational group of 15 players. There are certain players who play the game and they are narky or they have this poker face on and there are other guys who are more relaxed and you can nearly have a laugh with them walking to a lineout.
“They are not as intense as South Africa’s template and this is not an insult, and it’s in their DNA that they are completely confrontational. To put on that jersey you have got to fight for not just your rugby team but you feel that they are kind of fighting for a bigger picture all the time.
“When you are tackling guys, even at the very top level, you know, you don’t have to be at a hundred percent; an 80 per cent effort can put in a good functional tackle and get an impact. Against South Africa, you have got to be ready a hundred per cent every time because there is just a fight there, an aggression that is not dirty in any way.
“But their mentality goes back to history. They have had to fight for everything. They are just hard b******s! They don’t pick soft players. They look at players that have got to be confrontational, aggressive and in your face. First and foremost, they want to run over you. So that is what you get when you play South Africa all the time.
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“You don’t get it when you play Wales, Scotland, England, even New Zealand. Other teams try and run around you a little bit. The problem we all have now with rugby is that South Africa can run over you but they can now also run around you if they need to.
“They are a great side. It is not just about power and strength; they are so intelligent, tuned in and really well-coached. They are brilliant players who are really skilful when they need to be. They are more than just a physically direct side, far more than that. That worries me a lot. And if they get their set-piece rumbling they will make it very difficult for Ireland.
“It’s not as if they are 150, 200 kilos heavier than any other team. They are just very powerful. They are aggressive players who have become really good technically.
“They have a high work rate and you have just got to do the simple basics really well. There are certain types of Test matches where you can get away with losing a couple of lineouts or one or two scrums, maybe a couple of turnovers.
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“You just sense that with South Africa, because they are the world champions and they are peaking at the right time and have shown the depth they have in their squads, you can’t do that. They probably put the fear of God in everyone after they beat New Zealand at Twickenham. Beating Wales was a really scary performance as well.”
With that in mind, Quinlan predicted a Springboks win but he wouldn’t be surprised if victory is Ireland’s. “One part of me is confident that Ireland can win this game and I think they, of course they can.
“They are good enough. They probably need to get a fair bit right. They need to not give South Africa big gain lines and they need to be really good in the air for their set-piece.
“South Africa need to be really wary and mindful of this is a very good Irish side. They are capable of scoring lots of points and they are actually capable of taking punishment as well and bouncing back. They can dust themselves off pretty quickly.
“However, I will say South Africa by six. I just think they can nullify Ireland and stop them playing. That might not be the worst thing for Ireland in terms of the rest of the tournament. It will be really tight and I have said the Boks by about six, but I will be absolutely not surprised if Ireland win this game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
This game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
3 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
6 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
3 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
6 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
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