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‘It's the people’s champions against the actual champions’ - Ireland great weighs in
The build up to the most hotly contested midyear tour is ramping up, as outspoken former Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy has added his voice the Springboks vs Ireland series.
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Ireland will travel to South Africa for a two-Test series against the double world champions in July, off the back of another successful Six Nations championship, but a World Cup that ended at the quarter final stages.
Ireland did edge South Africa 13-8 in the pool stages, but ultimately couldn’t push on after coming up against New Zealand in the knockouts.
D’Arcy, who played 82 times for his country, believes that despite Ireland possibly being ‘tired’, it will be a true test that determines who the number one team in the world is.
Speaking to a media round table last for the URC, D’Arcy said that the Springboks did what they needed to do to retain their title.
“You have the world champions on merit,” he said.
“What I loved about the South African win was that they didn’t let a group match derail them and I just thought the resilience they showed to come back was fantastic.”
He went on to hint that Ireland will probably be a bit fatigued going into the tour.
“The season started to tell a little bit for Ireland towards the end of that Six Nations.
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“‘Tired’ is probably the wrong word but there are a lot of the same players playing in a lot of the same matches. With a couple of injuries and another round or two in the Six Nations, they might not have had the legs to keep going.
“I think Ireland will be tired coming down to South Africa. That said, I think there will be a couple of bodies coming back in and a couple of new faces added to that squad and we have two brilliant coaching tickets.”
Making some bold claims on the ‘best team in the world’ debate, D’Arcy said:
“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.
“It is the pick of the [July] Tests for me and I just hope Ireland will give a good account of themselves.
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“We know how much travel takes out of teams on the road, being away from home after a long season, and you guys [South Africa] are getting started, but it certainly won’t disappoint.”
The first Test will be in Pretoria on July 6, followed by the second in Durban a week later, on July 13.
I responded on the Ireland SA debate. I didn’t have anything more to add. We differ as usual - in this case what I suggested the measures of great should be. I think we’d both had our say. And I don’t think either of us will change our view.
So I moved on and responded (petulantly I admit) that you shouldn’t try and weasel your team into the discussion. You brought England up in the thread. I was taking a cheap shot.
then why did you respond to my point about England and not to my points about SA and IRE? You’re the one making sure the focus is on England.
I think Rassie should bring in some new guys and give them a go in these irrelevant games. It’s a chance to blood some guys that might otherwise not get a chance and see if they’re up to it. As for the who’s number 1 dispute? Don’t care. As long as the trophies are brought home, that argument isn’t important. Champions don’t fuss about the could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. They just do, and that for me makes SA and NZ the top dogs. Followed by Ireland and occasionally England.
Finn, real rugby men have drunk Guinness. Trust you are a real rugger guy. Invite is for Stellenbosch inland of CT. And if you don’t drink beer, then I will have some good wine for you.
Double World Cup Champions ? Wow since when did 4 become 2!
It was definitely meant to mean something like “back to back” or two in a row! :)
Ireland have played the ABs since the first game 1905 a total of 37 times. The ABs have won 32 and Ireland 5 times. If we look since the first WC, then they have played each other 28 times. All Ireland’s 5 wins have come since 2016. So the ABs won 23 games. Since Ireland won their first game in 2016, they have won 5 and the ABs 4 times. Fairly even. Whatever anyone says, beating ABs consistently is bloody difficult, and when you manage to win a few, show respect to them. Period.
There’s no doubt that in the last 8 years, since the end of the Mcaw AB era - that the gaps between all teams has shrunk. The gaps between the NH and SH too.
Which is great for international rugby.
But the two teams at the top of the pile since 2019 remains SA and NZ. The ABs have won 4 RCs. The Boks, 2 world cups, 1 RC and a British Lions tour.
The next best trophy cabinet was (until recently) Wales with 2 6N. Ireland now have 2. England and France 1 apiece.
There’s lots of premature chest thumping going on about win records now - but we’re likely going to see swings and roundabouts with that as a stat. On any given day, the top international teams are going to be tough to beat at home. And every now and then we will see a game or series slip through. Which highlights the bollocks of the Autumn series where SH teams go north and play different home nation at home. A little uneven playing field considering that only one NH team generally travels the other way each year to SA, NZ or Aus.
the standout aspect of the ABs is how they have consistently been so hard to beat at home and won away from home often
But it’s trophies (and maybe world ranking points) that are going to be the measure of greatness going forward.
And from what i believe is on the cards this world league thing is going to be a new trophy to decide who’s on top between world cups. Although I’m not sure how I feel about it.
Because we are going to need friendlies in between though. It can’t be tournament all year round. We need friendlies between teams like SA and Portugal to grow the game. Or we need more opportunities for teams to take an A team on tour with them and get new players in the mix.