Rassie Erasmus has responded to former Ireland veteran Simon Zebo’s “crack” that the Springbok coach “hates the Irish”, ahead of the two-Test series.
Zebo, who recently brought the curtain down on his 14-year career, stirred the pot between Ireland and the Springboks by suggesting that Erasmus “really, really doesn’t like” the Irish.
Ireland and South Africa are set to face off in a two-Test series in July, with Rassie Erasmus looking for his first win over the Emerald Greens, following the Boks’ World Cup pool loss to Andy Farrell’s side.
During a Springbok press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Erasmus shrugged off Zebo’s comments as a “joke”, but welcomed a stoking of the rivalry between the two nations.
“Simon Zebo messaged me, people who know him would know he’s a joke and every chance he gets, he makes a joke or a little crack here and there,” Erasmus said.
“He immediately messaged me and said listen ‘that came out totally wrong, they totally didn’t understand what I was trying to say.
“So he apologised and asked if he must he go back on air and rectify it and I said no man let’s spice it up, let’s keep it that way.”
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Several senior Springboks, including Eben Etzebeth and Damian de Allende, have also thrown jabs in the media. Etzebeth hit out at Ireland for their reaction to beating the Springboks at the World Cup, while De Allende accused the Irish media of disrespecting the Boks.
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