Tadhg Beirne expects the Springboks to turn the first Test into a scrap as the Ireland lock prepares to face a formidable pack at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Beirne was named in Ireland’s starting lineup to face an experienced Springbok team in the first Test of the series in Pretoria.
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The Munster lock helped his club beat the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus earlier this year, while he was also a key player in Ireland’s historic Test series victory in New Zealand in 2022.
The 32-year-old was also, interestingly, part of the Ireland U20 team that beat the Junior Springboks at the 2012 U20 World Championship, claiming victory over a side that had future World Cup winners in Pieter-Steph du Toit and Steven Kitshoff.
However, Beirne made no secret over his feeling that winning a series against the Springboks in South Africa would be his biggest achievement yet.
“This Irish team has been part of a lot of history over the last few years and we have said that if we can come away from here with two wins we’d have made history by being the first team to come here and win a series,” Beirne explained.
“The Springboks test you in different ways to other international teams. The most obvious one is your physicality, they’ve got a really big pack in general.
“They do look to somewhat bully you, they go after a lot of rucks whether it’s poaching or trying to bully those rucks to get the ball back or even just make it scrappy.
“They want to make the game scrappy, get into an arm wrestle. Some teams don’t want that play, they want to just play ball and run it around you.
“South Africa are looking to hit it up, bully us up front and then try to get out wide of us.
“That’s going to be a challenge for us and we’re looking forward to it.”
Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
The post Beirne braced for Bok ‘bullies’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
