Coach Joe Schmidt out to put Irish rugby ‘in the shop window’ in Springbok clash ahead of World Cup hosting vote
The race to hold the 2023 event adds intrigue to Saturday’s clash between the two heavyweights
The increasingly fractious atmosphere between the Ireland and South Africa bid teams for the right to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup adds an extra edge to their test match in Dublin on Saturday.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt will hope his players lay into their Springboks opponents as robustly as Irish Rugby Football Union chief Philip Browne did in a letter this week to his World Rugby counterpart Brett Gosper about South Africa’s topping the technical review that puts them in pole position to carry the day in the vote next Wednesday.
Schmidt, though, says he is not going to tell the players of the significance of beating the South Africans on the pitch with regards to the vote although he appeared to relish the thought of landing a blow days ahead of the vote.
“I hadn’t thought about it and I don’t want to put any more pressure on us,” said the New Zealander.
“Gee, though, wouldn’t it be great to put a really good performance in and put Irish rugby in the shop window ahead of the vote?”
