Manie Libbok is relishing the challenge of facing Johnny Sexton on Saturday, when the Springboks and Ireland clash in one of the biggest match-ups in the World Cup thus far.
Going into the third round of the tournament, the Irish are top of Pool B but are closely followed by the South Africans, who trail by just one log point.
The top-ranked Ireland will face the defending world champions at the Stade de France, in a game that will be decisive for both teams’ quarter-final ambitions.
Libbok, who has established himself as the Bok’s first-choice flyhalf this season, has been a key figure for the world champions, and while he is well aware of the challenge posed by Ireland’s talismanic playmaker Sexton, he says he is looking forward to the contest.
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Sexton, who is also captain, became Ireland’s record points scorer as the playmaker scored 16 in their romp over Tonga last week.
The 38-year-old moved to 1 090, seven more than previous holder Ronan O’Gara, setting it in style with a try he converted in the first half before sitting out the second half ahead of the meeting with the Boks in Saint-Denis.
Speaking in a Bok conference following the team announcement on Tuesday, Libbok told reporters: “Johnny is a great player and he’s done amazing things for Ireland over the years.
“On a personal note, I’m preparing as well as I can, and it’s going to be a nice challenge. We are playing the No 1 team in the world, so it’s a massive game for us all.”
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Libbok has been a key figure for the DHL Stormers in the Vodacom URC and has encountered many of the Irish players. However, he said this match would be a completely different confrontation in his first Test against the world’s top-ranked team.
“I’ve played against a few of their players in the URC, but this is different, it’s a Test match, and they’ll be at their best, just as we’d like to be,” he said.
Libbok, too, brushed off the criticism about his goalkicking this season, adding: “My whole game will be important. Kicking at posts, out of hand and my whole game in general. I’ve been working hard on my basic skills and I’m putting a lot of work into getting everything right.”
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter