Munster's Simon Zebo has blamed the Dublin media for inciting the current war of words between numerous Springbok players and the Irish Rugby team. As if Ireland's summer tour to South Africa couldn't get more exciting, the trash-talking that has been taking place in the media over the past weeks and months has added an edge to what was already going to be a monumental test series.
Over the past few weeks, former Munster centre Damian de Allende and Tokyo Sungoliath winger Cheslin Kolbe have both fired shots at the Irish media, citing "disrespect" after Ireland's 38-3 win in Dublin in 2017. Most recently, Kolbe has said that the Springboks are out to shut down any claims that Ireland are the best team in the world.
The fighting talk between the two countries has history. As revealed in episode two of 'Chasing the Sun 2', the documentary that followed South Africa during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Rassie Erasmus showed his players clips and soundbites from the Irish media ahead of their pool stages clash in Paris in September, in which Ireland beat the World Cup champions 13-8 in a thrilling contest.
Speaking with former Scotland International Jim Hamilton in April, Eben Etzebeth claimed that Ireland were arrogant after this win, as he recalled "probably 12 out of the 23 when I shook the hands told me, ‘See you guys in the final.’"
Simon Zebo reckons the Irish media, "based in Dublin" have played a big part in stoking up the rivalry.
READ HERE: South Africa Star Keen To Get Revenge This Summer After Irish Media 'Disrespect'
Simon Zebo Points Blame At Dublin Media For South African War of Words
Simon Zebo seems to be enjoying his rugby as of late, most recently scoring the opening try in Munster's URC Quarter-Final clash against the Ospreys in a comfortable 23-7 win. With the full-back in a rich vein of form, it was a surprise to many when he announced he would retire from rugby at the end of this season. Others have made the argument that with Hugo Keenan making the return to 7's for the Paris Olympics, Zebo could play a significant role in Ireland's summer tour to South Africa.
On the Kick Offs and Kick Ons podcast, Simon Zebo was asked to respond to De Allende's comments last week, in which he said of the Irish media after Ireland's huge win in 2017, "The way the media spoke, they completely disrespected us"
"For us as a group and for us as Springboks, it is about getting respect back, not their respect, but our own respect. We don’t need to but we really want to beat Ireland. It is going to be an incredible Test match."
“That first game against Ireland at Loftus, whether I play or not, it is just going to feel almost like a war.
🇿🇦☘️ Damian de Allende expecting a ‘war’ with Ireland after media ‘disrespected’ the Springboks. pic.twitter.com/vtncZDSguG
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) June 6, 2024
Zebo was appearing on the Kick Offs and Kick Ons podcast where he was asked about whether he agreed with De Allende’s view on the Irish media before expanding on the rivalry between the nations. He admitted that "the media did get a bit out of control here with the hopes and expectations", but is firm in his belief that the Springboks' Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus "hates the Irish."
"I suppose it was a little bit extra around South Africa because Rassie had obviously coached us here in Munster and he’s been involved in the Irish set-up. Jacques Nienaber’s now coaching at Leinster and there’s a bit of rivalry."
“Rassie hates the Irish, he really, really doesn’t like us, which is quite funny. It will build up even more and it drip feeds into the players. RG Snyman’s been copping a little bit of slack over it."
Ireland and South Africa are arguably the two best teams in World Rugby at the moment, and the countdown to the first test match on July 6th is well underway. As for the "bubbling" tensions after the recent war of words, Simon Zebo argued:
"It’s mainly the Irish media’s fault, based in Dublin I think, not the Irish media down here where I am."
“It’s going to be a juicy Test series, that’s for sure.”
SEE ALSO: Kolbe Says South Africa Aiming To Shut Down Ireland World Cup Claim
