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Latest posts by RugbyLAD Team (see all)

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Showdown.

When Ireland and South Africa clash, you can almost guarantee fireworks every single time.

The two sides have built up quite the rivalry over the last few years, and this weekend’s game promises to be another classic between two of rugby’s biggest heavyweights.

Cheslin Kolbe is no stranger to the big occasion, and he spoke to the media this week to give his thoughts on this weekend’s huge fixture.

“We haven’t won a year since 2012, if I’m not mistaken, and whether we played in South Africa or whether we came here or on a neutral ground, it’s always been 50-50,” Kolbe said.

“We just need to make sure that we implement what we want to implement on the weekend and what the coaches have set out for us, but also to adapt to the scenarios on the field.

“But yes, South Africa, Ireland, it’s always a massive game.”

Kolbe added that this weekend’s game is gonna be hugely physical, and noted that he has never won in Dublin and wants to change that.

“It’s going to be as physical as you can get. Whatever team you play for, especially for the Springboks, you would obviously love to win each and every test match you play in,” Kolbe added.

“Personally, for me as a player, I haven’t won here.

“We came close in 2022, but just didn’t capitalise on a few opportunities and shots at goal that definitely cost us back then. But yeah, it will obviously be massive for the team, for our growth, the way we want to move forward.

“But as I said, you want to win each and every test match, and our focus is just to make sure that we train as well as we can throughout this week.

“We’re confident going into the weekend and just implement what we’ve trained throughout the week and just play a good game of rugby.

“In these games that are so close, you need to make sure you capitalise on each and every opportunity that’s out there for you. They’ve been doing that really well over the past few years, and that’s a team that’s well-coached and has good structure to the game.

So if you’re not up for it on the day, they can definitely hurt you.”