Rassie Erasmus says that the Springboks aren’t looking to settle unfinished business as they gear up to face Ireland in a two-Test series in South Africa.
In recent clashes between the two sides, it is Ireland who has the upper hand, winning each of the last three encounters.
The Springboks‘ last win over Ireland came back in 2016 under former head coach Allister Coetzee, with Erasmus and ex-head coach Jacques Nienaber both failing to topple the side.
“I would rather take two World Cups and a Lions series”
Ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated clash at Loftus Versfeld, Erasmus says that his charges do not have unfinished business, but Andy Farrell’s side does.
“We don’t use those kinds of words,” he said at a press conference after announcing his matchday 23.
“I think they probably from their side have unfinished business to try and get the world number one ranking again, but we don’t talk like that.
“We just analyse players, we do checks on how their teams performed in URC and European Cups, and we pick our teams accordingly to see what players we think can do the job for us on Saturday, and we are trying really hard.”
Erasmus added that Ireland deserved all three of their most recent wins over the Springboks but said that there was no ‘score to settle’ and that he wouldn’t trade those defeats for the other successes the side has had.
“We try to stay in our reality, and our reality is that we are playing at home against the team that has beaten us,” he said.
“All the games were really close, and they deserved all of those games, but it’s never ‘hell we have got a score to settle’.
“I mean, I would rather take the World Cup – two World Cups – and a British and Irish Lions series and take the three losses, but we never go out to lose. We definitely didn’t pick this team to try and lose.”
Johnny Sexton’s absence
Johnny Sexton started Ireland’s last three victories over the Springboks but the fly-half has since hung up his boots following the Rugby World Cup.
A central figure in Ireland’s attack and their overall success in recent times, Erasmus was asked how the side has changed since the playmaker’s retirement.
“The refs have much easier now,” he joked.
Adding: “I always say that when facing Johnny, he is so frustrating to play against, but it would be nice to have him on your team.
“We had respect for him, for how he plays, commands games and commands respect, but this young fly-half [Jack] Crowley is not scared.
“He plays it on the gain line, he will go for the cross-kick if he wants to, he doesn’t shy away from tackling. So, at that age, you don’t feel the pressure of Test rugby as much until you realise what you are part of, and sometimes that is good.”