How Ireland’s James Ryan rates South Africa's Eben Etzebeth
Ireland vice-captain James Ryan is determined to impose himself on South Africa’s formidable pack as he prepares to go toe to toe with the world-class talents of Eben Etzebeth.
Towering lock Etzebeth has recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland in time for Saturday evening’s mouthwatering Paris showdown.
The 31-year-old star will be backed up by an imposing bench comprising a seven-one split of forwards and backs.
Leinster second row Ryan has “huge respect” for Etzebeth but is fully focused on producing his own big-game performance at Stade de France.
“He’s one of the best locks in the world, definitely, without doubt,” said Ryan. “He’s pretty much the complete second row.
“He’s got a good work rate, a good set-piece player, very good in the air in terms of line-out defence, a great feel for the game. A huge player for them.
“You’ve obviously got huge respect for them but I think big games are about making sure you impose yourself on the game.
“Respect them and understand their strengths and everything but you’ve got to bring it back to yourself and making sure you get all your bits right so that you can put in a good account of yourself.”
Ireland warmed up for the world champions by confidently dispatching Romania and Tonga in bonus-point drubbings to stretch their winning streak to 15 matches.
Andy Farrell’s men have won 27 of their past 29 Tests, including November’s 19-16 success over the Springboks in Dublin.
Ryan is braced for by far the biggest challenge of Ireland’s Pool B campaign and admits there is increased pressure and an extra edge during the build-up.
“It’s obviously just a big step up,” said the 27-year-old.
“They’re the reigning world champions, we have a huge amount of respect for them and we know we’ve got to really step it up this week.
“There’s that added little pressure that comes with the week but we’re very excited.
“Getting to play the world champions in Paris, Stade de France, World Cup week, 30,000 Irish supporters in the stadium, it is very exciting. It’s a cool week to be involved in.
“There’s an added bit of edge all week but at the same time it’s just an amazing opportunity.”
Ryan appears to be in line to succeed the retiring Johnny Sexton as Ireland skipper following the tournament in France.
Fly-half Sexton has begun the competition in record-breaking form and last weekend became his country’s all-time leading points scorer.
Ryan believes the longevity of his 38-year-old skipper is “pretty ridiculous”.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the first game of the season, a URC game or if it’s the World Cup final, he just shows up every week with the same competitive spirit,” said Ryan.
“He just wants to get better and he wants everyone else to get better.
“He is an unbelievable leader and he makes a big difference to the team when he’s in there.
“He probably is a little bit of an inspiration. He’s 38 and to be playing in a World Cup at fly-half at 38 and to be playing as well as he is, it is pretty ridiculous.
“I’m going to get a bit of a slagging for this because I’m bigging him up quite a bit but he’s been great.”
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> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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