It’s going to be a humdinger
It’s going to be a humdinger
Totally agree but Ireland have been found out now and the next 4 years will be very different to the previous 4 years.
I suspect that Ireland and France have had their time against the Southern Hemisphere sides.
And with Ireland going to South Africa (And AB's supporters know how difficult that is), I think they will find the Boks to tough.
And all the talk that Ireland are the best in the world will disappear very quickly.
It pisses me off to be honest - We have just had a world cup - we established who the current best side in the world is and Ireland did not make it passed the quarter final.
I think that might have been more the Poms saying Ireland were the best in the world pre their match and then Danny Care in the post match interview continued with that line saying it was tough beating the best side in the game. Some sad attempt to give their victory that much more credibility. Care is a stupid prick
Ireland certainly could be talked about as the best side in the world.
Nobody is very far ahead of the top teams at the moment. I think the top four sides are close enough that they wouldn't lose a series to the other top teams at home and wouldn't win an away series against those sides either.
And when that's the case it's not really possible to choose a best side.
Who is playing the best rugby? I'd say Ireland. For me at least, the way they're going about it is the most appealing. Has been for a few years now.
Yes, I know the Boks won the WC. And in twenty years nobody will remember how good Ireland currently are.
Oh boy there is always one
I think the last time we beat Ireland was June 2016. So they’re definitely not to be underestimated….it will be the perfect time for the Boks to even up the score a bit. It’s Going to be interesting encounters.
The Boks have struggled against Ireland in recent years, although most of the games have been in Ireland.
It is a well-drilled team, but I don't think they have the firepower out wide to trouble the Boks in South Africa.
They are certainly the most cohesive unit playing a coordinated game plan, but they are short of game-breakers.
We have not struggled we got robbed in Ireland with their try coming from a kick through a ruck by an Irish player and a forward pass by their bench prop
In the WC pool game we missed far too many easy kicks - it was a shambles.
Ireland are playing well against the other 6 nations sides.
But the Boks and the AB's are not even currently playing.
But going forward - lets see Ireland when the going gets really tough.
Having a maker on on you back is a completely different ball gam e.
The Boks and AB's have experienced that for years.
Oh boy there is always one
Yep, glad I'm not the only one who's noticed.
Only two things the Irish have as an advantage......they're match ready and have a settled side. Boks might struggle in the first but there's no excuses for the 2nd test.
Full respect for the Irish as a good side.
I think we had better wait to see who gets selected for the Boks to assess how many changes have been made and how this will effect the side.
I agree though that the Irish can expect a very hard time from the World Champs.
Wait, so some of you are gonna pretend that the Boks are miles ahead of Ireland?
The Boks are perhaps slightly better, if not on par. And you have to pretty biased to see it otherwise.
In terms of potential, that's where the Boks have the biggest gap. Were our backs as well drilled and cohesive as Ireland's, then I'd say the Boks were clearly the best side in the world.
We are better than Ireland but not by miles but we are better. There is not a single Irish player I’d pick ahead of a Bok player
We are better especially after seeing them play against England and Scotland over the past few weeks
We are the number 1 side and rightly so. The gap is small and given their last 2 displays there is nothing to say they are playing the best rugby - not even close
Maybe the loss of the direction of Sexton is the reason much like France and DuPont - who knows
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Being an AB Supporter I look forward to the Boks playing Ireland.
All this talk that Ireland are the best in the world is about to be tested.
I don't think for a moment that Ireland are the best and will find this out the hard way in South Africa.