‘SA there to be beaten’
23 Nov 2009
Ireland wing Keith Earls believes the Springboks are vulnerable ahead of their Test at Croke Park on Saturday.
The Irish media have started the theme of writing off the Boks, and now the 22-year-old Earls has weighed in with his thoughts. The British & Irish Lion did have some praise for the Boks, but believes they can be exposed after a long year.
Earls claimed two tries in their win over Fiji on Saturday, but has gained the most inspiration from the Lions tour earlier this year.
‘I would love to get an opportunity against the best team in the world,’ said Earls. ‘The Lions tour was disappointing in the end, losing two Tests, but we know they are there to be beaten.
‘France defeated them last weekend, so it should be a good challenge. We just have to relax as we did against Fiji, take it as it comes. It’s going to be good.’
In other Irish team news, flanker Denis Leamy is expected to be fit to face the Boks. Leamy rolled his ankle against Fiji, but the injury was not as serious as first thought.
However, he is likely to start off the bench, with David Wallace, Stephen Ferris and Jamie Heaslip the starting loose trio.
22 Comments
23 Nov 2009, 09:57 am
why on earth do these youngster always want to say somehintg like this . same with leigh halfpenny . now all we need is for the ireland coach to say the bok have lost their aura as world champions. silly paddy dragon
23 Nov 2009, 10:03 am
Hahahahaha… Keith Earls! I remember your first Lions tour game my friend! How many times did you knock on against the Griquas? 13 times? Oh man… this guy is so talented I can’t believe he isn’t being nominated for the IRB player of the year, along with Ronan O’gara. Just such a super talented kid, I just don’t know how Bryan Habana is going to contain this guy……..
23 Nov 2009, 11:15 am
@Kobus Kitty: LOL!
On another note. The Ireish have a very good loose trio at least on paper.
23 Nov 2009, 11:18 am
@Kobus Kitty: hahhaa
brilliant!
13 times times
where do u get these stats
23 Nov 2009, 11:18 am
testing dragon
23 Nov 2009, 11:29 am
@Kobus Kitty:
“I just don’t know how Bryan Habana is going to contain this guy……..”
I suppose he’ll probably just kick him when he’s on the ground
23 Nov 2009, 11:35 am
@Kobus Kitty:
He’s been scoring trys for fun at Munster, he got 2 trys in 3 games for the Lions and has played twice for Ireland and came away with 3 trys so give the guy a break. I won’t be surprised if he puts one past the Boks next week.
23 Nov 2009, 11:37 am
@jockstrap:
sshhhh…. don’t give the game away.
He’s useless… Boks by 50
23 Nov 2009, 11:44 am
@Flametop: hahaha
u guys r a riot!
i reckon if we start with the correct front row, the Irish will be in for a HIDING!!!
23 Nov 2009, 11:50 am
@Papoose:
I try to bring a sense of humour here… it’s a bit lacking at the moment.
I take your point about the front rows but I’m more concerned with Brussow.
Ireland should cope with the front rows, SA are no great shakes at the moment there although if as you say you pick better you could get the advantage.
The trouble is you’d lose your captain.
Bismark is better and Smit is no 3.
So keep the leader and sacrifice the tight dominance (to parity)
or rely on others to lead.
Nice dogma.
I believe they’ll keep Smit at 3 as the Irish will not cause problems and try to win with players 4-8
23 Nov 2009, 12:04 pm
@Breakdown Boy: they ok, but the boks have three good sets of loose trio’s on paper.
and thats still excluding spies and joe van niekerk and duane vermeulen etc.
Anyways guys, always remember something….no matter how much we whip the uk nations. it doesnt matter whether wales have beaten us only once EVER! or if we beat them all together at once(B&I lions), their journos, players and supporters will always, always believe it was fluke and that they are the best.
….because of this we are always going to read chirps before the game like this one or that jones journo and his opinion on our props.Let them psyche our boys up with their badgering..
..dont let it get to you cos it got to me b4 the lions tour and i think i may have developed some cancer due to it, but when the outcome has taken place just remember their comments, even copy and paste them so u can read them later after the game. it becomes enjoyable
23 Nov 2009, 12:08 pm
With the NH media making such a hype about our physicality and the Boks (on this tour) struggled to deliver, the thaught keep popping up – how much are the Boks missing Spies? He has a much looser role with the Bulls and a more physical, tight, power role at the boks… just a thaught… Kanko isn’t bad, but the boks lack power…
23 Nov 2009, 13:49 pm
The funny thing is, Keith Earls will probably not even make the starting line-up!
23 Nov 2009, 13:53 pm
If he relaxes “like he did against Fiji”, he’s going to spend a lot of the match huddled behind his own posts.
That wouldn’t be my approach, Keith.
23 Nov 2009, 14:04 pm
@katman:
If he plays like he did against Fiji he’ll be spending a lot of the match aiming at the posts
23 Nov 2009, 14:13 pm
@Flametop: He’s not playing Fiji…
23 Nov 2009, 14:23 pm
Bok loose trio to start: 6. Ratel; 7. Deysel; 8. Danie.
Kanko has been terrible this tour so keep him on the bench for when the game opens up.
23 Nov 2009, 15:04 pm
@fsjakes: Thanks. I didn’t think I needed to spell that bit out.
23 Nov 2009, 16:06 pm
@katman: Flametop supports Ireland, what did u expect?
23 Nov 2009, 20:16 pm
Of course the Bokke are there to be taken. Same as any side that takes to the rugby pitch. Bit of realism here authors and readers. The Irish hacks are looking for soundbites to write about just the same as the Saffa hacks. The kid said
“I would love to get an opportunity against the best team in the world,”……. “The Lions tour was disappointing in the end, losing two Tests, but we know they are there to be beaten.”
Now can somebody point out to me where the slight is in there? Didn’t think so. But ‘mon now folks some here are almost sounding like die Engels! Here’s to a good game.
24 Nov 2009, 01:05 am
Boks just don’t have the same aura as the All Blacks, do they? Not much of that strange, mysterious “fear factor”.
Everyone can bowl them over. After all, if lowly club sides can rumble them with ease, why can’t proper test teams do likewise?
24 Nov 2009, 02:18 am
@TheTackler:
All Blacks couldn’t beat the (actual) Boks this year could they?
Go away sad little man.
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