Eben Etzebeth Back in Line-up for Springboks' Clash Against Ireland

South African Rugby Union confirmed on Tuesday that Springboks lock, Eben Etzebeth, 31, is set to start in the upcoming Rugby World Cup match against Ireland this weekend following his recovery from a shoulder injury. The 6ft 8in powerhouse had to observe from the sidelines when his team secured an emphatic 76-0 win over Romania, having sustained the injury in a prior match against Scotland.

Head coach Jacques Nienaber has undertaken a strategic shuffling of the team that squared off against Romania, reinstating 14 out of 15 players from the prior clash with Scotland. Bongi Mbonambi has been plugged in place of Malcolm Marx, who also suffered an injury.

Nienaber recognizes the gravitas of the game, stating, "Ireland is a quality team with a potent pack of forwards and skilled backs. They play with impressive speed, so we have to launch a top-tier performance to tilt the scales in our favour." Notably, South Africa had an engagement with Ireland late last year, and the team has since carefully analyzed their opponent's performances to brace for the weekend game.

The Springboks are scheduled to conclude their Pool B tournament with a game against Tonga on October 1, shortly after taking on the top-ranked Irish team on Saturday in Paris.