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'The Irish are the new All Blacks... like playing Richie McCaw'

Players tussle during the first test between South Africa and Ireland at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Stormers head coach John Dobson has labelled Ireland the “new All Blacks“, comparing captain Peter O’Mahony to Richie McCaw.

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Dobson, who has plenty of experience of facing Irish sides in the United Rugby Championship, outlined how Ireland’s players have become the masters of the dark arts of rugby, as was McCaw.

Joining the Off the Ball podcast recently, the South African gave an insight into the “bar room talk” in his country, and how Andy Farrell’s side have taken over the All Blacks’ mantle of being the wiliest operators in rugby by pushing the laws to the limit.

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Irish defense coach Simon Easterby on selection ahead of Boks showdown

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    Irish defense coach Simon Easterby on selection ahead of Boks showdown

    “I wouldn’t call them nasty because off the field they’re the nicest people in the world,” he said.

    “We feel, and I’ll speak on behalf of myself and the Stormers, and a lot of bar room talk is that the Irish are the new All Blacks.

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    “The genesis of that was going to number one in the world. After the Chicago win, it’s the best team in the world for a long time.

    “That’s where it starts, but just that cleverness around where it’s a short line, a slight elbow to knock someone out of a clean, a slight tug back, Peter O’Mahony at his classic best. That to us felt like playing Richie McCaw and Sam Cane of a few years ago.

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    “It is a narrative that the Irish are very, very clever and know all the shortcuts now. That’s a big part of their game.”

    Ireland fell to a 27-20 loss to South Africa last week at Loftus Versfeld, and head to Durban this Saturday looking for revenge.

    While Dobson admitted that there were some pivotal decisions that did not go Ireland’s way in the match, he did highlight instances where they were able to slow the Springboks down at the breakdown  in a semi-legal fashion.

    “I think you got a tough time last week, there were some very high-impact decisions that can’t be resolved,” he said.

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    “But I’d also say that there were many times when Ireland were on the edge of the breakdown and were coached off the ball. And I thought it was very clever. You just roll for one second slightly towards the No9 and then get out the way and make a big show of the ball, the damage is done and the ball’s been slowed.

    “Our feeling for a while now, Ireland, whether it’s their phase play, whether it’s their kicking game, have been very, very, very clever. And we think they’re very clever at the breakdown, it’s ideal. And the maul defence, the way they come round and start pulling, it’s very clever.”

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    Comments

    191 Comments
    R
    Ruby 242 days ago

    You provided all the evidence I need, you've gloated about Peter o’whatahisface calling the captain of another team a “sh*t Richie McCaw”.


    Every comment from you is pure aggression and arrogance, I'm glad I never noticed you when I was more active here but it's clear that you've got a reputation, you get mentioned in threads even when you haven't chimed in with your 0.5 cents.


    I'm not a bad loser, I had been happy for Ireland winning until their fans were starting fights in wellington after winning the series. I've never said that NZ supporters were humble, we just expect better from our players, the only Irish players that seem like down to earth, friendly, humble people are probably the only 3 who didn't go to private school and their names are James Lowe, Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park. I've generally help the Irish as the most charismatic people but I've never felt that way about their players, just a bunch of arrogant manchildren from privileged backgrounds who have no concept of the real world. Like yourself.

    B
    BI 246 days ago

    Backhanded compliments come across as a little bitter to me, which surprises me from Dobson.

    J
    JK 247 days ago

    Well done to IRL and Frawley. The boks need to school Sacha - should not have kicked and kept possession in 75th min

    J
    JK 247 days ago

    Not true - Richie doesn’t croc-roll ppl like that punk Doris or James Ryan

    P
    PG 247 days ago

    What a load of crap coming from drunks in a bar.

    R
    Rugby 248 days ago

    Very astute article

    B
    Bull Shark 248 days ago

    On a serious note though: why would Andy (who’s a sh1t Joe Schmidt) drop his captain for the important one to level the series?


    Seems like a bad idea.


    Does it say something about POMs leadership, reading too much into it? Or is it just about giving Doris the experience?

    B
    Barry 248 days ago

    As if South Africa wouldn’t throw a little elbow here, or a sneaky foot trip there if it would help them win a game.

    B
    Bull Shark 248 days ago

    Everybody does. It’s just that Ireland is the best at it. Apparently.

    N
    Nickers 248 days ago

    SA, France, and Ireland are excellent at these aspects of the game. The ABs have been naive for a number of years. After being labelled “cheats” for so many years it’s like Hansen took it to heart in around 2016 and there was a massive drop off in these tactics from NZ, only for all the other teams to start doing it better.


    ABs got schooled against France in the WC opener last year, and again by SA in the final. I don’t think they even knew it was happening to them. Need to get Richie in as a Dark Arts consultant.

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    J
    JW 20 minutes ago
    Super Rugby Pacific has turned the ship around in the right direction

    LOL thats the same mentality the French saying about the Top 14. Why change their ridiculous comp if its performing well with investors?


    There is always better JWH.


    It depends really what you want out of Super Rugby and NPC. Currently Super Rugby fills both niche’s, it has the up and commers as well as the stars performing at the top. Reducing further obviously improves further on what has been the reason everybody is enjoying this season.


    There is definitely a question of balance and what going further that way removes. But theres a few reasons. What coaches are telling us is it is also a struggle to find the talent to fill out a strong SR side. There is talk of increasing financial constraints. Currently there is a lopsided (random) amount of derby home and away match ups in each conference, so going 5v5 instead of 6v6 may mean we have a full derby round for each conference (currently I think they play just 3 teams twice), or even squeeze in a full dbl round comp. Going a larger number of teams means they need to go much larger to fairer league setup.


    But they need to add or remove JWH, one or the other, and I was merely pointing out that adding, like you’re suggestion, is likely going to introduce just what we all (or at least what the person I was replying to was saying) think the comp has been remedied of, having a weak team. The 5v5 I referenced was 3 Aus teams, with the other two filling the landscape their, and 5 here. That’s what NZR wanted to kick off for the COVID year but ARU threw a hissy fit. If going to 10 is the right thing to do maybe it’s an NZ team that needs to be dropped, so Moana would remain here and Drua continue to be with the aussies, thats the other possible 5 v 5 setup (which would just be 10 if they found a way for all to play even games).

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