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Andy Farrell: 'South Africa are 100 per cent the best'
By PA
Andy Farrell is relishing a shot at the world’s best as Ireland pursue perfection after continuing their northern hemisphere domination with another Guinness Six Nations title.
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Ireland turn their attention to a two-match summer tour of South Africa having retained the championship crown following last year’s Grand Slam by beating Scotland 17-13 in Dublin.
Many pundits feel Farrell’s in-form side are already Test rugby’s leading nation, an opinion understandably disputed in the Springbok camp following their back-to-back Rugby World Cup successes.
While Ireland have won their last three clashes with the Webb Ellis Cup holders, they have only once achieved that feat on South African soil – a 26-20 Cape Town triumph under Joe Schmidt in 2016.
“It doesn’t get any more difficult, does it, or any more exciting than that,” Farrell said of the July fixtures in Pretoria and Durban.
“All you want is an opportunity to put yourself out there against the best and South Africa are 100 per cent the best.
“Being able to go out there and test ourselves over there – we’ve managed to win one game over there before – will be great for our development going forward.”
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Ireland have won 33 of their last 37 Tests stretching back to 2021 following a memorable St Patrick’s weekend.
Defeat by France in 2022, a pair of losses against New Zealand, including in the quarter-finals of last year’s World Cup, and last weekend’s last-gasp 23-22 reverse against England are the only blemishes on the remarkable record.
Ireland’s latest Six Nations success came following the retirements of long-serving stars Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls, while outstanding wing Mack Hansen was among those unavailable due to injury.
Head coach Farrell, whose side also have autumn appointments with the All Blacks, Argentina, Fiji and Australia on the horizon, wants to keep raising the bar.
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“To be consistently at your best is probably impossible but that is what we’re going after,” said the Englishman.
“But when class players drop out of the squad, it’s always going to take time to build back up and if you can do that winning, or learning from the experiences like at Twickenham or whatever, then that’s all well and good.
“But the reality is that there’s plenty more in us and there has to be for what’s coming for the rest of the year.”
Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony feels a responsibility to keep building on the foundations laid by former team-mates such as Sexton.
“You always represent the past players,” said the Munster flanker, who is contemplating his own retirement.
“They’re a huge part, and even Johnny popping into the hotel last week, it’s something that we should probably make a bit more regular.
“They’ve been there for a long, long time and Johnny has been a huge part of where we are now and Earlsy is, like everyone who has put a huge amount of effort into the group.
“Every time you pull it on (Ireland’s shirt) it’s for lots of those people as well and you’d like to think that they’re proud sitting at home, the people who can’t take the field any more.”
Munster fly-half Jack Crowley, who has filled the void left by Sexton, and Leinster lock Joe McCarthy are part of the new generation tasked with maintaining high standards.
Farrell has urged the rookie pair to ignore the hype surrounding their standout Six Nations performances.
“Jack’s a realist,” said Farrell. “And do you know what? I’ve been hard on him.
“Jack will tell you that because it’s easy to read the press and get carried away that, ‘I’m doing it and I am doing really well’.
“But we’ve kept his feet on the ground and Joe McCarthy as well because there has to be a realisation that’s not what we’re chasing.
“We’re chasing something better than that and as long as we can continue to do that we’ll continue to grow as a group.”
forgot about Seta Tamanivalu, Fiji but my error, there are so many now.
Recent year 50+ players
200+ caps
The Pacific Lions
or the Tongan All Blacks
What I find hilarious is that the only persons that have made the comment that Ireland are the best team in the world are opposing teams, for example Scotland in England (still trying to swallow the fact that they were beaten in the semi-final 😭🤔😜) by the second best team in the world and the fans. I have to say this, that is why they are the losing teams when it comes to the crunch because they don't know what the best really is……. Yes I am a South African but that game against Ireland in the world cup we didn't have to win and deep down inside you know it🤔😜😁. I don't underestimate what Ireland can become when they do realise that!!. And I hope they do because they can make rugby even more exciting than the usual 2/3 horse race… at least Andy Farrell has his head on straight… at least he is the coach of Ireland and not the rest of the buffoons who make comments 😁😜🤔😭🧐🤣🤣🤣🤣… because let's face it. Ireland are a great test and SA are about to be tested at least not by the buffoons but by the people who play the game.
Finally. Someone from Ireland who knows what they’re talking about.
Oh wait. Andy’s from England…
Mind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever.
Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
The PACIFIC LIONS
I don't give a s*** what you say go the All Blacks
Frizzell Born in FOLAHA Tonga
play u20 for Tonga
Sivivatu, Sitiveni Waica and
Lauaki, Sione Tuitupu actually played for the Pacific Islanders rugby union team before been poached.
Don't pay rent own my own house. Your list means nothing it's just something you've written down dick f***
list?
nah thought so
no proof
just poof
keep searching google with your thumbs
I cant see the hype around best team in the world comments. England are back to a certain extent, NZ, Ire, France and Boks there is nothing to separate. The simple issue will be beat the Boks at Loftus on a highveld winter afternoon. Even then it wont make a RWC trophy appear in your cabinet, that one is taken
“Many pundits feel Farrell’s in-form side are already Test rugby’s leading nation, an opinion understandably disputed in the Springbok camp”
Show me the source for that statement. Rassie said - quite clearly - the Boks focus on themselves and improving rather than on debating who the “best” is. Perhaps Bok fans / journo’s dispute it but have not seen any quotes attributable to the “springbok camp”.
It's actually a winter tour. I don't normally nitpick but it's not a summer tour because it will be midwinter when they come to play against us. Summer tour if we went there in August.
I get your point but probably as the article is being written from the Irish sides perspective it's called a summer tour.
Ireland did it to NZ, so as a Saffa I’m not feeling invulnerable, but I do believe we have the firepower and the determination to beat any team in a series at home. It’s a pity it’s only a two game series, so we have to be sharp and go 2-0. 1-1 would be unacceptable. 0-2 a disaster
I agree, 3 game series would be better.
However, a 2 game series makes it do or die. The boks play better under pressure. Ireland winning just one game - possibly targeting the Durban Test - is as you say unacceptable. So both teams are going to have to be on point from game one. No time for feeling each other out. This will make both tests humdingers!
Here we Go Turly
Newly-appointed Springbok attacking coach Tony Brown wants to help Manie Libbok realise his potential after holding a one-on-one session with the flyhalf.
www . sarugbymag . co . za / brown-backs-world-class-manie/
the mind games have started. you are better, nah you are. we are the underdogs nah we are.
You’re pretty. No you’re pretty.
My take:
1- SA
2- NZ
3- Ire (only because we won 6N)
4- Fra
5- Eng
6-Sco
As regards potential look at France. They have most potential. They should focus on 6Ns for next two years. The attacking threat of emerging NH teams and Ireland will forge this France into a very formidable outfit able to attack and defend multiple threats.
I think the world rankings are a pretty good summation of who lies where. I think England looks to be the emerging threat out of the NH, not France, in my opinion.
where is Aus?