Former Springbok international Bob Skinstad looks ahead to Ireland’s World Cup clash with South Africa this weekend.
WHILE SOUTH AFRICA have shown an ability to bounce back from pool stage defeats at previous World Cups, former Springbok international Bob Skinstad expects ‘conjuring trickster’ Rassie Erasmus and the Leinster-bound Jacques Nienaber to go all out for victory against Ireland at Stade de France on Saturday.
Operating under the dual roles of Director of Rugby and head coach for that 2019 RWC success, Erasmus has since focused on his DoR duties with Nienaber filling the latter position until the end of this World Cup cycle. As someone who has known him for more than two decades, Skinstad is ideally-placed to speak about the highly-respected – and often controversial – Erasmus.
However, having gone more than three years without an Irish appearance he was able to switch allegiances back to his country of birth thanks to a new eligibility rule that was first introduced in 2022. “I think he [Kleyn] played quite well actually [against Romania]. He’s fitting in and certainly I think South Africa will be delighted to have a guy of his quality. I’m not sure that he is going to be a starting lock in a team that boasts so many, but maybe with the injury to Eben [Etzebeth] etc he’ll have a chance. Certainly a fantastic rugby player.”
Whereas his native country came into this tournament as defending champions, his ancestral homeland has occupied top spot in the world rankings since July of last year. He has been impressed with the way Ireland have gone about their business thus far in convincing victories against Romania and Tonga, but feels this weekend’s fixture will tell a lot about their World Cup prospects.
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