35 - 19

36 - 7

71 - 17

60 - 5

40 - 0

80 - 31

26 - 17

25 - 15

International

'South Africans just hate the Irish': McCloskey on growing 'beef' with Boks

Josh Raisey

Published: 8 May 2026 05:35 PDT

Garry Ringrose of Ireland and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu of South Africa tussle during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey believes South Africa’s introduction into the United Rugby Championship has increased the “beef and grittiness” between Ireland and the Springboks.

The fierce rivalry between the two nations is one that has emerged over the past decade, with Ireland winning five of the nine encounters between the two sides since 2016. Rassie Erasmus’ side got the upper hand in their most recent encounter, however, physically dismantling Andy Farrell’s outfit up front in Dublin in November.

While McCloskey feels the hatred South African fans show towards Ireland is not necessarily reciprocated, he believes the URC has fanned the flames, with two of the four finals since the URC’s inception being contested between Irish and South African opposition, with Ireland coming out on top on both occasions.

VIDEO

Joining the For the Love of Rugby podcast recently, the towering centre explained how Ireland’s victory over the Springboks in the 2023 World Cup pool stages “stoked” the rivalry, despite the Boks retaining the Webb Ellis Cup a few weeks later.

While the rivalry is still “cordial,” the 28-cap Ireland international said, he added that the way South Africa fans have commandeered ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries is “not great craic.”

Fixture

Nations Championship

Ireland

08:40

21 Nov 26

South Africa

All Stats and Data

“It’s a weird one,” the 33-year-old said when discussing the rivalry. “I think with them being in the URC now, you see a lot more of the South Africans and there probably is a lot more beef and grittiness there.

“I don’t know what it’s come out of. It seems like South Africans just hate the Irish. I don’t know if we hate them as much, but I think it’s pretty cordial. I think there’d be good crack between the fans. We’ve not got to fighting them yet.

“Obviously we were the top two teams in the world coming up to that World Cup and South Africa went down and did it. We came up short, but had beaten them in the group stages and that probably stoked it a bit more.

“It’s not really craic either. Come on, that’s your own craic. In general, not great craic.”

News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!

Whether you’re looking for somewhere to track upcoming fixtures, a place to watch live rugby or an app that shows you all of the latest news and analysis, the RugbyPass rugby app is perfect.

Get the RugbyPass App 📱

Follow the biggest matches with live scores, line-ups, news and analysis, all in the RugbyPass App.

Download Here

On Apple IOS, Android, and Tablet.

LIVE

Comments

30 Comments

Flankly 45 days ago

Utter nonsense. McLoskey doesn't know what he's talking about. Or worse … he does know what he is talking about and is intentionally misleading people.

Not the way to build credibility as a commentator.

RugCs 45 days ago

There is no rivalry here, it’s the Irish trying hard to establish one. We only have one rival and they are another team in the Southern Hemisphere nation we have be in rivalry with for more than a century.

Ed the Duck 45 days ago

Yeah we saw them “trying hard” last November and there will be more to follow later this year…

JW 45 days ago

Hate their arrogance you mean Stu.

David Gedye 46 days ago

I don't think many South Africans hate anybody. Irritated and amused maybe.

I’d say we’re definitely more thick-skinned than a few years ago. It helps that so many Saffas play abroad and ‘get’ the British sense of humour…which can seem weird…until you get it!

unknown 46 days ago

We don’t hate the team the coach rhe fans or the country. We do hate your pundits , rugby scribes and hacks and the chat shows. Especially that poisoned leprechaun Gir on OTB and special mention to your honory Irish hack Mrs Matt Williams. 2 absolute See you next Tuesdays.

Ed the Duck 46 days ago

“he added that the way South Africa fans have commandeered ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries is “not great craic.”

Seriously??? Looks like a total sense of humour failure from SM…😂

fl 45 days ago

it just proves how much Ireland are in SA’s heads. It would never have occurred to SA fans to associate the song with rugby if their loss to Ireland hadn’t hurt so much.

unknown 46 days ago

The ‘great rivalry’ between the four times World Cup winners and a team that can’t get past the quarter finals. Massive rivals 😂

fl 45 days ago

pretty childish response - you know that most SA fans and players take the rivalry seriously, and that since Rassie and Farrell took over Ireland have won most of the games between the sides

unknown 46 days ago

That's what drives the hate. You guys have won it but we're the voice in the back of your head you cannot keep down or beat when it matters.. But we cannot even come close to winning the flipping thing whereas SA have only been the best team in it once, lost a game then and still won (albeit with refering error but that happens too)

Rodney Ford 46 days ago

Total BS. We don’t hate the Irish and especially not the Irish players. They are great and worthy opponents and a victory over them is something to cherish. Same goes for the fans. 99% of the ribbing is good-natured fun.

But every country has the remaining 1%…

Lofty 46 days ago

Agree Rodney. Hate is a massive word to use directly against another human being and in my 50+ years visiting many venues, grass roots through to many world cup games, I have never experienced it. I used to “hate” seeing George Smith coming on the pitch v England but what a fantastic player and great to watch. I sometimes wonder how much of this BS is to make headlines !!

Hammer Head 46 days ago

Hate is such a strong word.

Loathe entirely is probably more apt.

unknown 46 days ago

This story is from an interview on the For The Love Of Rugby podcast with Ben Youngs and Dan Cole. This isn’t the first article I’ve read on rugby pass where the story has been taken but FTLOR have not been credited.

Hammer Head 46 days ago

Joining the For the Love of Rugby podcast recently, the towering centre explained how Ireland’s victory over the Springboks in the 2023 World Cup pool stages “stoked” the rivalry, despite the Boks retaining the Webb Ellis Cup a few weeks later.

Or was this added after your comment?

FCM 46 days ago

While I definitely do recognise a rivalry, I am not sure about ‘hate’. As a South African I love it and think the Irish fans are great. I’ve been to the pool match between SA and Ireland and there was a lot of banter between the fans, but we had a great time and had a couple of beers with Irish fans even after the game. Actually exchanged numbers and have kept contact. I’ve also been to the Ireland-Scotland game in the WC in my Springbok jersey and of course had a lot of comments, but all in great fun. At the Ryder cup in Rome during the WC we also met Irish fans and also had beers with them. Really fun times. Think it remains keyboard warriors that paint a different picture.

Hammer Head 46 days ago

Yeah I agree. Spent much time in Ireland. Ireland and the Irish people are great.

RW 46 days ago

Probably in person its fine, I think Irish and SA fans travelling to each others’ countries would have few problems. Online, very different.

Obviously craic is a nuanced thing.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!