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Claims that Ireland-South Africa series has been decided in Paris
By Kim Ekin
Ireland’s tour of South Africa in July featured two pulsating Tests where the two sides could not be split, sharing honours 1-1.
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The Springboks won the first Test 27-20 in Pretoria at altitude, before two late Ciaran Frawley drop goals sealed a 25-24 win in Durban for Ireland’s second-ever win on South African soil.
Under the previous iteration of the mid-year internationals, the world would have likely been treated to a third and deciding Test.
The last of which occurred in the 2022 season where three deciders played out between England and Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, and Wales and South Africa.
On day one of the Paris Olympics, Ireland squared off against the Blitzboks and managed to win a tight game by 10-5.
Many are claiming that the sevens match is the de-facto third Test that the rugby world wanted to see, meaning Ireland claim the series 2-1 over South Africa.
South African publication Ball Carrier handed the series to Ireland based on the result.
Ireland clinch the series 😉 pic.twitter.com/58lA3KHYkO
— BallCarrier (@BallCarrier_) July 24, 2024
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Ireland win the summer series 2-1
— Birdman (@Birdman00530981) July 24, 2024
So Ireland win the series 2-1 ?
— Barry (@barrylynch21) July 24, 2024
This game counts as the third summer test. Ireland win the summer series 2-1 🥳 Sorry South Africans, I don’t make the rules. Humbled in Paris again.
Yes I know you’ve won 4 world cups and we’ve never made a semi final. I don’t really care. #OlympicGames
— John (@johngormley94) July 24, 2024
The Blitzboks Olympic campaign is now hanging by a thread after opening day losses to Ireland and New Zealand. They fell to New Zealand by 17-5 after their tight loss to Ireland.
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In order to qualify for the quarter-finals, South Africa need a massive win over Japan and results to fall their way in order to fill the spots reserved for the two best third-place pool finishers.
And keeping with longstanding tradition……Ireland got beaten in the quarter final…..lol
Not sure what the logic is… Rugby Sevens is a different discipline to 15 man Rugby so can’t be compared or used as a decider. Series was a draw, unfortunately no deciding match. South Africa are WC Champions and No. 1 in the world rankings, surely that is proof enough that there is no doubt who the better team is.
Its a joke FFS
Well, if they have then NZ have just taken a 3-2 lead in their ‘series’ vs Ireland… 🤣
I think a more convincing argument is that Ireland and South Africa have played 3 times in the last 9 months with Ireland winning 2-1. This is more convincing given that one match was on neutral ground (Paris) and two were in SA (Pretoria and Durban). Ofcourse this is all BS to sell a few adds on RugbyPass so there is that.
I think being RWC champs and being best Test team in the world may not always be the same thing. Tournament rugby is different to test rugby.
That is why you saw SA losing to Ireland in Paris (de facto a test match) but winning the knock out matches where the teams ability to deliver under fatigue/injury/preparation deficits becomes more important and suits SAs style and mentality (and excellent preparation).
The Rugby Champs and Autumn series will reveal more.
A more convincing argument would be that in all games ever played between SA and Ireland……………..
Agreed. They’re not the same thing.
At the very least being World champions means you won the last World Cup. And being the best team in the world means you’re the number one ranked team in the world.
It works like that with every other sport in the world. It’s only in rugby where winning the World Cup and being the number one ranked team seems to open the debate.
And then a loss in a sevens tournament nogal becomes a factor.
Desperate
‘Desperate’ definitely sums up RugbyPass’s decision to try and spin this into a story. 🤣 Must be a slow news day..