Percy Montgomery: ‘Ireland are niggly and irritating’ as Springboks legend weighs in on pre-series ‘psychological warfare’

Ireland-in-a-huddle-and-Percy-Montgomery

Springboks Rugby World Cup hero Percy Montgomery has welcomed the tension between them and Ireland ahead of the two-Test July series.

The top two teams in the World Rugby rankings are set to go head-to-head next month in what will be a couple of huge encounters.

A war of words has already started and, in fact, goes back at least a couple of months when Springboks star Eben Etzebeth lit the touchpaper by calling Ireland “arrogant.”

Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe then fuelled the flame with the centre saying that it would be “like a war” and that they were “disrespected” by the Irish media.

Rassie Erasmus and Simon Zebo

Following De Allende’s comments, Simon Zebo stated that Boks boss Rassie Erasmus, who used to coach Munster, “hates the Irish.”

Erasmus responded to the former back three player in a press conference insisting that there was no ill-will towards Zebo.

The 51-year-old also revealed that the Ireland wing and full-back offered to apologised, but Erasmus told him to leave it so that they could “spice it up.”

It has therefore been a slightly fraught build-up to the Test series but Montgomery is enjoying the back and forth between the nations.

‘Let’s spice it up’ – Rassie Erasmus responds to Simon Zebo’s remarks that Springboks coach ‘hates the Irish’

“Rugby banter is always good,” the Springboks centurion told the Irish Times. “It ensures that the boys are up for the game. Back in my day, Keith Wood used to be quite a menace and gave us a lot of flak.

“I’ll never forget our captain’s run at Lansdowne Road in 1998; we hadn’t finished yet when Woody and the rest of the Irish crew came trotting on to the field to start their session.

“Ireland are niggly, they are irritating, but they also boast excellent rugby players. They are extremely passionate, just like the Welsh, and they know their rugby.

“The banter is all part of the psychological warfare. It’s good, as long as it doesn’t become personal.

“As South Africans, we wouldn’t expect anything less from Ireland. They must come at us as hard as they can.”

How the series will go

Being defending champions and on home soil, the Springboks will undoubtedly be favourites, but Montgomery is wary of Ireland and their development in certain areas.

“Being World Cup champions does add pressure, as everyone wants to beat the champs,” he added. “It won’t be easy for the Boks. The Irish are technically correct in all departments; they have upped their game, especially around the rucks and in midfield.

“We will have to be on par. All in all, the two-Test series promises to be massive.”