Ireland coach Simon Easterby vows team will prove strength against France in Six Nations finale

‘I can’t wait to see what we’re going to deliver’: Ireland coach Simon Easterby vows team will prove strength against France in Six Nations finale after Rassie Erasmus called his side ‘softies’

  • Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus called Ireland ‘softies’ in a documentary 
  • Ireland forwards coach Simon Easterby backs his stars to prove Erasmus wrong 
  • They have won in Paris three times since 1972 but the Six Nations title is in reach

Ireland have vowed to show some steel in the Stade de France after they were called ‘softies’ by Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus.

Erasmus, who guided South Africa to World Cup glory last November, gave the insult prior to his side’s semi-final clash with Wales in Japan.

In Chasing the Sun, the behind-the-scenes documentary chronicling their capture of the Webb Ellis trophy, Erasmus warns his players of the Welsh threat, stating: ‘They are not softies, they are not like Ireland. They are not like England, who goes away. They are tough f******.’

Ireland have vowed to show some steel against France in the Six Nations decider this weekend

Ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations title-decider against France, forwards coach Simon Easterby is backing his players to prove Erasmus wrong. 

‘I know you’ll see a performance that would suggest otherwise,’ he said. ‘I can’t wait to see what we’re going to deliver.

‘There is a single-mindedness about this group that gives me massive confidence.’

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus insulted Ireland by calling them 'softies' in a documentary

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus insulted Ireland by calling them ‘softies’ in a documentary

Ireland have only won in Paris three times since 1972, but two of those wins have come in their last three encounters.

With a bonus-point victory enough for the championship, head coach Andy Farrell has placed faith in youngsters such as Will Connors, Hugo Keenan and Caelan Doris, who have five caps between them.

They will take the field with prop Cian Healy who, by contrast, will win his 100th cap tonight.

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