Ireland can prove 'best team in world' tag this summer

As Ireland stands on the brink of Six Nations glory – with only one game against Scotland in Dublin this weekend standing in their way – former Irish international Andrew Conway has highlighted the team’s potential to prove themselves as the world’s best.

In an interview with NewBettingSites.uk, Conway backed Steve Borthwick’s claim of Ireland’s elite status, emphasizing the upcoming summer tour against the top-ranked Springboks in South Africa as the ultimate test of their prowess on the global stage.

Ireland will return to South Africa for the first time in eight years for the two-Test series this summer. The opening match is set for Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on July 6, followed by a clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban.

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“Do I think Ireland can become the best team in the world? Yes, of course. I think there are four or five teams that could be the best team in the world. The challenge is to become the best team in the world over a sustained period of time – which Ireland have shown they can do. There’s different ways to look at who is the ‘best team in the world’.

“If Ireland just keep doing what they’re doing, keep moving forward, likely will win the Six Nations next week and then get two cracks at the world champions [South Africa] in a few months… That is a great position to be in. Andy Farrell will be thriving under that pressure of going down there and taking on the world champions. Winning championships and testing themselves against the best in the world and coming out of this positively is their focus. The other stuff takes care of itself.

“There is no doubt that this is one of the best Ireland teams that we have ever seen. Ireland have won 20 of their last 22 games. That is unheard of. You go back 15 years, 10 years, people wouldn’t believe you if you told them that Ireland are going to win 20 in 22 games. Their run at the Aviva is monstrous too.

“You have to give the team masses of credit for how good they are and how consistent they have been. The big one against New Zealand didn’t go our way and of course we lost on the weekend, but for that to throw people off so much it goes to show you what people expect now. That’s the position Ireland are now in. They have gotten to a certain level and people expect wins every time. There is no doubt this Ireland team is the best that has ever been.

“The next World Cup is three and a half years away and rugby changes on a weekly basis. There is a lot of ways the next few years can play out. Ireland has a great structure and this has helped to deepen the pool of player quality over the last 15 years. There’s no reason to think that Ireland won’t be in the mix to win the next World Cup but so much can happen. It’s going to be an interesting next few years for Ireland.”