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Ireland match-winner predicts Springboks rematch in World Cup final
By PA
Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley joked about spending his well-earned days off in Disneyland following the fairytale of sealing his country’s statement Rugby World Cup win against South Africa.
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Test rookie Crowley capped a thrilling 13-8 victory over the reigning champions by calmly slotting a crucial late penalty after stepping off the bench to replace captain Johnny Sexton at Stade de France.
The 23-year-old was visiting Paris for the first time and had the chance to remain in the French capital for a brief escape from reality ahead of a turning his attention to a pivotal Pool B finale against Scotland on October 7.
Crowley, who expects the Scots to be “gunning” for Ireland, could not resist a light-hearted quip at the expense of his diminutive team-mate Craig Casey and some of the senior members of Andy Farrell’s squad, including 38-year-old Sexton, as he humorously imagined a group theme park visit.
“We have a few days off to recover because it has been a few intense weeks,” he said.
“(I’m going to) take it easy. Disneyland Paris! We have to get a pass for Craig though. There’s a few old-age pensioners as well. Yeah, maybe Disneyland, we’ll see.
“We go back in on Wednesday and the preparation begins for Scotland.
“I suppose they are going to grow throughout the competition, aren’t they?
“We have come against them in the Six Nations and they have been one the toughest competitors because of the way they play.
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“Our eyes are firmly on them. I’m sure they will be gunning for us.”
Ireland led South Africa by just two points for the majority of a tense final quarter of Saturday’s epic encounter.
In front of massive Irish support, Crowley nailed a nerveless 77th-minute kick on the occasion of his eighth cap to alleviate mounting pressure before a heroic defensive effort secured success.
The Munster player revealed team-mate James Lowe was audibly counting down the seconds on the shot clock ahead of the conversion to eat into the time the Springboks would have to hit back.
He described the physicality of a bruising contest as “through the walls”, while playing down his “nice easy penalty” on an evening when the opposition’s wayward goal-kicking proved costly.
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Speaking of his key contribution, which came four seconds inside the permitted time, Crowley said: “(It was) pretty special.
“When you’re sitting on the bench looking up at the clock as the time is dwindling away, you see the magnitude grow larger.
“It was a proper Test match. The physicality was through the walls.
“When you’re coming on you’ve got to know the magnitude of the game and the responsibility.
“I got a nice easy penalty in front of the posts. If I’d missed that I think you’d be saying a different story to me. But that’s the gig.”
While Ireland have a weekend off, South Africa face Tonga on Sunday with work to do.
Crowley suggested the world’s top two teams could meet again in the final at the end of next month.
“They’re a World Cup-winning side because they disrupt teams’ plans,” he said.
“They play rugby the way they want to play and that’s how they won a World Cup just by doing that.
“We knew since we played them in November last year (a 19-16 win for Ireland) just what a challenge this was going to be.
“You’ve got to trust your plan and as a coaching staff and players we all bought into it and thankfully in the end we got the result but it’s not easy.
“And I’m sure we won’t see the last of them in the competition.”
France VS SA and NZ vs Ireland are going to be epic, the fact that we see these games in the quarters and not the semi's is a failing of rugby's governing body and deprives the fans of an opportunity to see the best rugby teams for another week. Those 4 teams would probably beat any other qualifying team. Go bokke! All the best....
You lose. Bye now, little girl.
Look I'm just gonna leave you alone as I fear I'm making whatever ailments you have worse. Best of luck I hope you get the support you need.
Oh dear, little girl. Reduced to cutting and pasting my old comments now, sad. Owned you good and prooer. You lose. Try harder.
Lots of expectation by the Irish fans but here's the reality.
Ireland's dependent on three NZ rugby professionals to get to this point, Bundee, etc.
No tier one team has won more than 18 tests in a row, Ireland will need to win 20 to win RWC.
The Boks should've been awarded a penalty try due to Ireland collapsing the maul at the end.
There are far too many teams still at RWC with the capability of ending Ireland's run.
Ireland's has never made it past the quarter final and to do so will need to be both Scotland and the Allblacks.
Ireland gave it everything to beat the Boks, they've shown their game plan and intent to do so.
Pressure is now huge for Ireland as the world's world one, pressure of expectation does funny things to rugby teams, particularly world cup favourites.
All the talk of an Ireland versus Allblacks quarter is excellent motivation for the Scots.
The Allblacks if the Irish get through pool play will be very motivated, they've only ever lost three in a row to one team and in the professional era it's been once.
Good luck to the Irish but I'm not expecting them to win RWC, the margins are too fine and their winning streak too long, their opposition too motivated.
Conrad, you talk on behalf of the Irish fans like you are one but you are not.
'Dependent' poor choice of wording. You reckon Ireland are no.1 in the world due to three players, the one of which you mention is actually of Samoan origin. I guess you were saying the same thing when the English were dominating. What's mauri about O'Mahony, Sexton, Furlong, Beirne etc?
Guess who ended England and NZ's hopes of breaking the 18 test tier one records? That's right - Ireland.
The SA's should've kicked the points when they had the chance, they should have had a yellow for the blatant stamping on VDF's already injured hand. Could've, should've, would've......
They've never made it through the QF's correct but what are they on course to do? That's right, win arguably the toughest group and regardless get seeded against either the 2nd or 4th ranked team in the world after already beating 3rd ranked in the group.
Ireland gave everything to beat the boks and the boks gave it everything and lost to the Irish. Inc. the infamous bomb squad!
Each of your points are pretty much baseless and are a consequence of your inability to accept the loss of Saturday night.
As an Irish fan, I do not 'expect' to win the world cup. I'm sure you as an SA, do. As an Irish man, I have belief that we can win the world cup and comments like yours, feed that belief so thank you and safe travels on your way home.
Man, if you think Irish fans are expecting to win the World Cup, you don't know any of them.
I think Irish fans think that this team has the potential to win the world cup. But they are all worried about our quarter final hoodoo.
Ireland for sure respects Scotland and will be ready for them. But realistically Ireland should have too much for the Scots.
Then they will need the game of their lives to beat NZ. And guess who is waiting in the long grass then if Ireland get that far? Probably Wales. No better team to bring Ireland down to earth with a bang if you look at history. So no, Irish fans won't be getting ahead of themselves.
The Boks though? Many Boks seem to think that the competition is a formality and they already have it in the bag. I will tell you one thing though. Most Irish fans I have spoken to would prefer to face the Boks in the final than France. And there is a reason for that.
Meanwhile Ireland have won what? 27 of 29 games? They will mosey on and take it game by game.
And if you think Ireland have shown everything in last Saturday's defeat of the Boks last Saturday, you haven't been watching enough of those 29 games played by Ireland. Ireland have massive room for improvement in attack and lineout play from what they produced on Saturday.
And that Bok maul was brought down perfectly legally. Just another phase in the amazing Irish defensive effort produced on Saturday. The only way the Boks scored a try was a combination of field position from a penalty hitting the posts followed by one of those evil rugby ball bounces and a penalty advantage. In general the Irish defense contained the Boks. Of course the big problem Ireland had on Saturday was the lack of a set piece at lineout or scrum. So they will have to improve massively there.
Still, it was an amazing game. Nothing between the two best teams in the Championship. But beware France (and we will obviously take NZ very seriously).
Salty fans make for amusing morning reads, cheers haha
South Africa will be the WRC again this year, look at the facts, we do have the strongest team, we have the biggest and most tactical pack off forwards in the history of the game, we have multiphase game play, we have some of the fastest people on the field, we have a the best defence and a great attacking game, we started and have the best mauls ever, our line out wins are legendary, we steal the ball on numerous occasions, on the break downs, come on do I need to say more.... oh yes look at the tactics off Rassie, do you really think the lights is for injuries lol, it's a tactic, the same tactics he has been using, loosing against Ireland could have been a tactic or a test, with Rassie you never know. Yes we do not have a great kicker and yes it could be a problem, South Africa is known for there kicks at goals for years, but again, I wonder if it was not just kept a secret to pull the cloth over everyone's eye's. I know we will beat France and we will regain the RWC, you know why, becouse we are SOUTH AFRICA and we don't play Rugby we live it, we are born for Rugby, like Sparta was Born for war us South Africans where born for this beautiful game of Rugby, Go BOKKE jou lekker ding
Nigel, what are your predictions based on? Merely stating "I cant see" is not a sufficient indicator of the outcome of any game. Based on facts figures and recent history it would seem your predictions are wrong. Im not a betting man, but I suggest you look at the odds set by the book makers as an indicator....they very very rarely get it wrong
Can't see SA getting past France in Paris and neither can I see Ireland beating NZ. If the unexpected happens in either group neither of the Pool B teams are going through either.
We lost with 4 points against France in 2022,whilst playing with 14 men for bout 58 minutes. 13 at a time and that in France. Before that we have won all of them since 2010. France have a 26% win ratio against us. Not saying we will win, but we have a much higher chance winning against them than NZ.
Everyone on here knows by now that you are just a bitter SA hating England fan. No one takes you opinion seriously mate so just stop wasting your time.
So,Nigel,or should I just call you Ben Smith..... nice alias mate.
Or should I say Nigel Owennnnnowhatehellisgoingon
As a South African I feel we have a beter change against France (DuPont injury a big factor, even if he plays with a mask) than the All Blacks. Never ever underestimate the All Blacks. We know that better than any NH fan.
Very likely that no rugby championship team will feature in the semifinals