‘Skrela’ not making JP tremble

Ask a Kiwi, Aussie or Springbok to talk about Ireland and the response is guaranteed to mention Brian O’Driscoll and/or that hoary old nod to passion. Beyond that, the well of platitudes tends to dry up.

It’s a default position utilised to hide the unpalatable fact the Irish just don’t map on southern hemisphere radars the other 364 days of the year and JP Pietersen demonstrated as much yesterday with an unfortunate slip of the tongue.

The Springbok wing was fielding what should have been a straightforward query about the qualities of their hosts’ back three when he offered up the names of Tommy Bowe and … wait for it … David Skrela in reply.