Springboks vs Ireland: ‘As big as it gets,’ says captain Siya Kolisi

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi admits his team will have to be at their absolute best if they are to beat the top ranked side in World Rugby, Ireland, in their Rugby World Cup pool match at the Stade de France on Saturday night.

It is a blockbuster clash between the top two ranked teams and could be a preview to the final should both teams advance to and make it through what will be a tough quarterfinal stage.

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Neither side has played each other much recently, with last year’s clash in Dublin, which Ireland won 19-16, the first game between the two since 2017, so it will be interesting to see how Saturday’s game pans out.

“I think this is as big as it gets. We are playing the number one team in the world in the World Cup. That is what you dream about as a child,” said Kolisi.

“They are an amazing side. They have won 15 in a row so it’s going to take the best of us to beat them. I am looking forward to it and I can see the excitement all around the world, everybody is keen for this game.”

Mind games

Where the Boks will likely get a leg up on the opposition is their preparation, with SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and coach Jacques Nienaber putting in a ton of work while also playing some impressive mind games ahead of the match.

“The amount of work they (Erasmus and Nienaber) put in with their coaching staff is ridiculous. The amount of information we get, if we play on a Saturday on the Sunday we already have stuff ready (about the next game). I always see them at seven o’clock sharp, they are always in meetings,” explained Kolisi.

“The information (we get from the coaches) is exactly what we need to know. Rassie gets us as people, he gets us as human beings, he reminds us exactly what we do and who we are doing it for.

“To have somebody who has also played at this level and sits there and thinks about rugby, but he also thinks about some of the mistakes he made when he played and he is not scared to share that. Whatever you are going through he is always there.”

The result of this weekend’s match will likely decide the top two places in pool B, with the Boks final pool match against Tonga, while Ireland will face Scotland in their last pool game.