IRELAND READY TO MAKE HISTORY; Rugby 365

INTERVIEW: IRELAND ARE DETERMINED TO END MORE THAN FIVE DECADES OF HEARTACHE ON SOUTH AFRICAN SOIL WHEN THEY ARRIVE FOR A THREE-TEST SERIES LATER THIS MONTH.

Ireland's new defence coach Andy Farrell said they will have to "front up" and "challenge" the Springboks when they meet at Newlands (June 11), Ellis Park (June 18) and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (June 25).

Ireland have been in camp since the weekend and fly out to South Africa this coming Sunday.

"We need to make sure that we create this bond and belief that we're going to go to South Africa and be very determined to create history over there," Farrell said.

Having been dumped by England, he is looking forward to his role with Ireland.

"It is a fantastically exciting challenge," Farrell said, adding: "We are going to South Africa for three Tests and we have never won over there."

Ireland, in seven Tests against the Boks on SA soil, have only once come close to a win - losing 10-12 in Durban in 1981.

Their biggest defeat was 0-33 in Pretoria in 1998 - to this day one of the most spiteful Tests between the two countries.

However, Farrell is excited about facing the Boks first up since his move across the Irish Sea.

"It is a great start for myself and it is what you want as a coach, you want those type of challenges and I look forward to them."

He doesn't expect the Springboks to chance much, despite suggestion that there could be a more 'expansive' game under new coach Allister Coetzee.

"Everyone knows how they will be," Farrell said, adding: "No matter how they want to try and shape their game plan in a different way - they have got what they got.

"They have X-factor in the ball carrying and they want to try and run over the top of you and create dominance there, get on a roll and play off the back of that.

"They do have some good, genuine gas on the outside as well and they offer a threat all over the field.

"We have to make sure that we front up, obviously, and we have to make sure we throw a challenge back as well."

Ceradyne & others who follow NH rugby will know better but I don't think Ireland have much of a chance. 
Interesting that the article still comes with a "leopard can't change their spots" line of reasoning. Are we to expect the same ol' Box with tough forward play, crash ball. I predict yes but we may see some flashes from the backs. We will know better when we know who is selected for the 23 member team. 

They can in Eireland but cannot see it in foreign soil....nevertheless  I believe they will give us a severe "test" to see if the framework is in place...an acid test to see where we are heading.

I have mixed feelings for this series.

My great uncle Clifford A Riordan (Grandad's brother) was born in Cork and immigrated to SA...he fought in the WW1 as a captain and decorated for his bravery in the Dardenelles...he went to SACS in Cape Town, he played rugby for Diggers in the then Tvl and was selected as a Springbok against the British tour in 1910...SA won 2 tests of the 3 played then. In those days they merely put his playing position as forward...have not been able to establish exactly but some relatives in Australia have contacted me and think it was a flank or 8th man...the scrums of those days were another kettle of fish but my grandad was a huge man...I've seen a photo of Clifford as well but he was slimmer and more athletic looking so it makes some sense...he also went to SACS and later became a magistrate in Clanwilliam (Cape West Coast/Cederberg). (also as his boet in PM Burg) .

Gramps  retired and was one of the first farmers in this area to start Rooibos tea farming along with the help of Dr Frans Nortier...a French botanist and a Russian Jew Mr Ginsberg...you can read about this in one of Lawrence Greens books, Land of the Afternoon.

I've read in SAC's magazine that Mr Ginsberg was also at SAC's so I presume that they had mutual or affectionate old boy ties. The Ginsberg family today virtually control the entire Rooibos tea industry and it's mega. Nowhere else in the world can this amazing health product can be produced...it only grows in the Cederberg.

Present rooibos culture can thank my grandad...it;s huge today...sadly my uncle took over and sold the farm in the Pakhuis pass...well known by country folk and hikers today...there are Bushmen paintings in the caves...he also was a friend of Louis Leipold the famous Afri kaans poet who was a farming neighbour.

Uncle Cliff later became a magistrate in Pietermaritzburg and then a diplomat in Argentina...he then started a factory in England producing ice-skating skates...the design I believe is still used today.

I sadly never met him in England before I was born...he died relatively young.

I'm very proud of him and I'm sure he would have loved to see a game between the country of his birth and the country he played for.

I want to add there's something in the OLD Irish blood that makes things happen...does it exist today...maybe...the problem is that people today scorn ancestory, descendancy and plebs of lower birth scream out...it's not vanity but dignity and respect...the Irish are traditionally shakers and brave and risk takers but certainly helpers, liberators and innovators.

So handle with respect

 Irish are also short tempered,  quick with their fists and always ready to forget all arguments over a pint or goblet in the nearest pub. I know a few A f r i k a n e r s of Irish decent. Hayes, Dempsey...Hutchinson? Spelling?

I'm calling bullsh!t on SubstantialBull's post above. The Springbok Cliff Riordan was born in Colesberg, South Africa and not Cork, Ireland.

You have the cheek to comment on something that does not interest you...obviously your only motive is to discredit me. I don't like you and find you abominable. Mind your own business.

Yes he was and I made a mistake where he was delivered...my great grandfather and also my grandad who was  older and the big family (as was the norm in those days...immigrated from Cork)...he was a medical man and settled in Colesberg...grandad was born in Eireland and Cliff was born in SA in Colesberg....but this family was from Cork. I got the location of his birth wrong...a minor detail. I couldn;t remember exactly minor details. All I remember was that they came from Cork and my grandad was born there. Incidentally my grandad was also a magistrate in Colesberg as well, also in Bellville before retiring in Clanwilliam, ass hole.

You are really an irritating ass hole of note...nit picking,fault finding loser of note, with a huge inferiority complex...it had nothing to do with the real point...I'm proud of my family...

The Gilfillans in Australia who I write to know more about it...Nina is presently compiling a history of my family which has remained silent for quite some long time...

"Cliff RIORDAN also the son of an Irish Doctor who settled in Colesberg and
married there. The RIORDANs had ten children, of whom Clifford Atherton was
one, born on Christmas Eve 1885. During World War I, handsome Cliff RIORDAN
rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Army service Corps after retaining
at Aldershot and saw action in the horrible Dardanelles. Later he became a
magistrate in Pietermaritzburg, a sports journalist in South America and a
specialist in ice skating equipment in London where he died on 7 February
1958."

I am also interested in finding out more about this family line because of
the links to the GILFILLAN family. Would love to get a copy of the document
held at the Cape Archives if anyone manages to get there

Also I made the error...he was a sports journalist in Argentina...not a diplomat...I couldn't remember minor details...got confused as somebody in that family was...afterall there were 10 children...I am only now discovering things that were hazy to me in my youth.

Silly man!

My wifes Grandparents are both from county Cork ,and theres a fair bit of Celtic blood in my family too .Its easy to forget or be a bit rough on facts about your ancestors ,at my family reunion a couple years ago [ when I arrived at the Marae my family where getting several dozen big fat lake caught brownies and rainbows for the smoker ,your eyes would have popped out at that Seb!]  I discovered that my Nanna had not 13 kids but 16 !!!! And me Granddad was a fireman post WW2 which is pretty groovy .Your Gross Onkel [ is that right ?] was a fine fellow indeed .And Ireland have Buckleys of winning .Boks will steam roll them I reckon .

Ireland are playing the ABs at Soldier Field in Chicago in November. It will be a home game for the Irish, it's no coincidence the Chicago river runs green on St Pats.  I intend to be there and to find a restaurant that serves  Guiness after the game. I might even sing a verse or two of Raglan Road.....I have no Irish roots, but I know all the songs, traditional and revolutionary. And splendid songs they are too.

Two posts here are contradictory...the other falling apart...Ireland C team ...injuries are part of the game...but a lot of crap, not the end of the world, well with a noodle of respect does not gel with me...a game is made up with in the case of rugby 15 men...it's a team game is it not ? The dice might well fall the other way...never underestimate the underdog...Saffers, under- estimated the determination of the Japanese and now the Irish...you might well be right but only a fool under-estimates the power of pride, fighting spirit and determination...I'm sure. not a single player and the coach falls victim to that cheap talk. They should know better.

Yeah, SA should win but never at the expense of a cheap shot.