Irish media definitely targeted me - SA's Etzebeth

South Africa's Eben Etzebeth says nan Irish media "definitely targeted me" aft he accused Ireland of being "arrogant" pursuing past year's World Cup excavation lucifer betwixt nan sides.

Speaking successful April, Springbok fastener Etzebeth said "probably 12" of nan 23 players successful Ireland's squad said "see you guys successful nan final" aft nan Irish won nan Pool B brushwood 13-8.

Ireland, however, fell to New Zealand successful nan quarter-final again while South Africa went connected to clasp nan World Cup, beating nan All Blacks successful nan final.

When asked astir his comments connected Tuesday, earlier Saturday's Test against Ireland successful Pretoria, Etzebeth stood by his remarks.

"Look, I said what I said," said nan two-time World Cup winner.

"It was aft nan crippled and I spot a batch of them said 'how could I count precisely that amount?'.

"You conscionable springiness an estimate because it was decidedly not little than six aliases seven, it wasn't much than 20 of them. I conscionable gave an estimate."

Etzebeth, who started past year's excavation crippled successful Paris, added: "I said what I said. We'll ne'er aft a crippled show a squad 'we'll spot you successful nan final' if there's truthful overmuch rugby still to beryllium played.

"Maybe that was their measurement to opportunity they deliberation we're a bully broadside and 'we mightiness make it each nan measurement through', but group decidedly interpreted that a spot incorrect and took it a spot retired of context."

Etzebeth was speaking aft being named successful a beardown South Africa broadside that includes 12 World Cup winners for nan first Test against Ireland astatine Loftus Versfeld Stadium connected Saturday.

While South Africa are back-to-back World Cup winners, they person mislaid their past 3 encounters pinch Ireland.

Ireland, however, person ne'er won a bid successful South Africa.

"From their side, they astir apt person unfinished business to effort and get number 1 [in nan world]," said Springboks caput coach Rassie Erasmus.

"We don't talk for illustration that. We analyse players, we spot really they execute successful nan URC [United Rugby Championship] and European Cup, past prime our squad from players we deliberation tin do nan occupation for us.

"We train really hard. We effort to enactment successful our reality but our reality is we're playing astatine location against a squad that has beaten us. All nan games were really close, they deserved each of those."

Former World Rugby coach of nan twelvemonth Erasmus added: "But it's ne'er 'we've sewage a people to settle'. I'd alternatively return a World Cup, 2 World Cups and a British and Irish Lions series, and return nan 3 losses."