'WE ARE ALL BOKS'

ETZEBETH: STRONG IRISH TIES DOESN'T FAZE THE LOCK

- Ross Roche

The Springboks may have a fair few Irish coaches and Ireland-based players in their squad, but that won't count for much, according to lock Eben Etzebeth, when the teams meet for their end-of-year-tour match in Dublin on Saturday.

Assistant coaches Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones are ex-Ireland internationals and have coached in the country previously, while RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn play for Leinster and Munster respectively. Head coach Rassie Erasmus also coached in Ireland before returning to South Africa in 2018 to join the Boks.

Asked during a Bok press conference if their knowledge of the country would give the South African visitors a leg up in the match on Saturday, Etzebeth said he didn’t believe so.