1
Finn Russell: Ireland 'the best team in the world'
By Ian Cameron
Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell acknowledged Ireland’s rugby supremacy after they clinched the 2024 Guinness Six Nations title with a gritty 17-13 victory against Scotland, declaring them the ‘best team in the world’.
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite a tenacious battle at the Aviva Stadium, it was the Irish who emerged as back-to-back champions on ‘Super Saturday’, much to the delight of the home crowd. The celebrations were doubly sweet as they coincided with St. Patrick’s weekend, sparking vibrant revelry across Dublin.
Though not their most dazzling performance, Andy Farrell’s squad demonstrated plenty of resolve, none more so then when Andrew Porter crossed the line for a decisive second-half try.
Russell, who has contended with the world’s best – including South Africa – within the past few months, had no reservations in hailing Ireland as the world’s number one team, despite the fact that the Boks won the Rugby World Cup and the All Blacks beat Ireland in the quarter-finals of the same tournament.
“I think they’re brilliant. They’re probably the best team in the world.
“Majority of them probably come from Leinster, so they’re so well aligned. It makes it tough to break them down and find weaknesses in the team.
“However, coming to the Aviva when they are have everything on the line, and us putting that performance in. We probably had the chance to… maybe to have won the game if we hadn’t let in a couple of soft tries, maybe we could have won the game, I’m not sure.
“I think they are the best team in the world and this is probably the hardest place to come and get a victory.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Russell contends that Scotland need a substantial mental shift after their Triple Crown aspirations were thwarted by Ireland. Despite the spirited performance, he lamented Scotland’s erratic play, which led to a disappointing three losses in the tournament from five games.
“Today we are progressing,” said Russell. “That mentality we had today and that cohesiveness, especially in defence, was brilliant.
“But throughout the campaign we need to get mentally stronger. We need to get better and put in performances week in, week out.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’ve had spells in this competition that we’ve been brilliant but at the same time we’ve had spells where we’ve allowed teams to get on the front foot and get momentum.
“We are progressing and it’s tough only winning two games and saying we’re progressing but this campaign will make us better come the summer, then November and next season’s Six Nations.
“From a personal opinion, I think mentally we need to get a lot better and not drift at moments in the game.
“We need to be in every moment of the game and that’s a big work on for us.
“Today, we were there for probably 90 per cent of the game, just a couple of moments that allowed Ireland into it. And, probably the best team in the world, you can’t do that over here.”
I’m thinking that English is closer to your 4th language Rugby but then again you don’t seem bright enough to speak one, let alone more….
Who told you how to spell Rugby correctly by the way???
Keep up with your alcohol induced rambling Rugby. It’s making you look sillier by the minute…..
A nomination is a sign of excellence
World rugby inductee
He never won it though. Let that sink in after you come back from your badly needed English class. I think you’ve also had enough to drink tonight so better knock it on the head and quit while you are WAY behind…..
You are wrong
Bula
you understand what I said
World rugby inductee
143 games
Nominated World player 3 times
don’t deflect to language teacher
you are wrong
wrong
pacific Lions
Finn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries.
Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
Finn is right. Ireland are the best team in the World. Boks won the LOTTO Cup, thats it. Ireland trigger all the Bok fans, its hilarious. Every post about Ireland, without any reason for SA presence, is immediately invaded by Safas. Online, social media, its the same. Such an insecure nation.
BAHAAAAAAA, DONT IRK THE POOR SAFFAS . CORRUPT WORLD CUP , . NOT ONLY INSECURE . BUT THE POOR COUNTRY IS FALLING APART . THEY ARE ALL FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER . BUT APPARANTLY STRONGER TOGETHER . WELL DONE IRELAND .
Lotto cup indeed. You have to be in it to win it.
If you’re at the top of the world rankings then you’re the best in the world. If you slip from there, then you’re not, whether you’re the current RWC holders or otherwise. Winning the tournament is one thing, being consistently good is another.
The most pragmatic person on this site. Thanks Jen.
After the Boks won the 2019 World Cup, I think they remained at world no. 1 for 50 or 60 weeks. Despite winning the RWC and being world no.1 they were trash talked. Even winning a B&I Lions tour was disregarded.
You’d think it was simple - but their are many fools in the mix.
There’s only one team that can beat Ireland now . ALL BLACKS . COMMENTS NOT READ , DONT BOTHER
Finn might have a short memory, not sure. I guess it is easier to say after the game in an interview “ah look we tried our best but we lost to the best team in the world, in their backyard” rather than “we lost to the second best team in the world” (Just using current World Rankings and RWC Results)
Using Finn and the 3 teams in question. Assuming Scotland, Ireland and Boks are consistent. Can’t go back to far in rugby , kind of you as good as your last game.
RWC
Boks 8-13 Ireland (Boks 7-1 split no POLLARD no VERMEULEN)
Boks 18-3 Scotland (Boks 6-2 Split no POLLARD )
6 nations
Scotland 13-17 (Ireland no SEXTON )
Ireland
lost JOHNNY SEXTON (who was just brilliant in the last few years)
maybe also PETER O'MAHONY
Springboks
lost DUANE VERMEULEN
but they will gain DE JAGER who is back playing
they will also have POLLARD and AM.
Springboks also have some new coaching ideas
Jacq lurking in Leinster
Jerry on Board
Rassie has now come out to say he wants to fix a few wrongs.
Turlough this will ramp up I am sure.
Plus Ireland have Joe Biden
I believe SA are best in World. I actually believe NZ are second. Ireland best of rest.
My argument is that World Rugby fix the draw and scheduling so that TV requirements don’t make the tournament into too much of a lottery. Even this year they gave Chile their rest week before the Quarter Final where the chances of it being of any benefit were about 500/1 against.
It’s simple stuff:
Draw- Happens close to tournament so that seeding is relevant.
Schedule- Seeds 4,5 in pool must play in last pool match and not against each other That’s it fixed. Can be done on cigarette box in 60s.
As for revenue concerns for TV, they should promote the most exciting looking of the Tier1 Vs Tier2 matches for the final weekend. I have been arguing for this literally since the draw/schedule for the 2015 world cup was announced and I learned NZ had a direct call on the schedule of their QTR opponents.
It’s 1980s old man’s club, quasi corruption well into the 21st century. Lets sort it FFS.
Reality check. Ireland exited at quarter final once again. Excuses are more numerous than ever. Yesterdays performance against a poor Scottish team(can’t beat Italy) is a clear demonstration of how average they are. I guess the South African tour will settle arguments about number 1 for a while.
You are aware that everyone accepts that the draw which placed the 4 standout favourites against each other in the quarter finals was a farce, and demeaned the tournament’s credibility?
Ireland best in Northern Hemisphere and top 3 in the world, fantastic to watch too. World Cup is the real daddy and it is very very difficult to win the ultimate prize. If Ireland beat the Springboks in the summer tests then a strong argument could be built that Ireland are the “best team” in the world. Will see what happens.
Remember how Ireland beat South Africa in 2022 and 2023?
It’s simple really. Whoever wins the biggest trophy in the biggest tournament is considered the world’s best. It’s not rocket science.
I think we can all agree Ireland are going to win the world 🌎 cup🗑️ needing only 13 men
We can agree they beat NZ in a full series pretty easily which some NZers are still pretty pretty sore about.
We should settle this “Best Team in the World” thing. Maybe we should have a tournament between all the contenders, and just let them battle it out.
We just did that RWC2023
Add (with a fair draw and scheduling) and you might be onto something!
Ireland are the best team in the world. We nearly beat them, cos them scored soft tries against us. We are the second best team in the world then.
It's a consistent approach by some media and other 6N players, not Irish players that IRE are the best team still. I actually think there is some bitterness here about the WC not going to the NH. Not a good look. Disrespectful to the Boks and AB’ s for that matter when they haven't taken the field yet. We will see how good IRE are when they face the Springboks on the highveld in July.
Boks lost to Ireland at the World Cup.
Its not disrespectful, they are entitled to their opinion. I dont agree with it but its not a disrespectful opinion. The issue is the click bait nature of media now.
People love writing cheques they cannot cash.
Very close Finn, but bokke are still the best…