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Opinions Of International Rugby Media Are Split Over Ireland Win Over South Africa

Opinions Of International Rugby Media Are Split Over Ireland Win Over South Africa

By Colman Stanley Sep 25, 2023 3:00 PM

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While there have been plenty of differing opinions about Ireland vs South Africa: which side deserved the win, refereeing decisions etc., one thing that most can agree on is that it was a Rugby World Cup group stage classic, with this feeling aptly summed up by Sam Roberts in his column for RugbyPass:

It has delivered the best game it could. It won’t be bettered, even if these two teams make the final. Ireland and South Africa captured every shot, nailed every line, hit every mark.

This was rugby as if Hollywood had suddenly got its best script writers round a table and the juices had started to flow. It was Balboa rugby: as outrageous as it was enveloping.

One major talking point revolved around South Africa's goal kickers, or lack there of, and how they probably would have won if Handre Pollard had been playing.

However, New Zealand journo, Ben Smith, baulked at this notion, reminding people that Pollard has been prone to off days himself with the boot.

The inevitable and predictable reaction to the Springboks’ narrow 13-8 loss to Ireland has led to chorus of South Africans swooning after their golden boy Handre Pollard.

The goal-kicking ace who can save the Springboks because 11 points were left out on the table, never mind that Pollard doesn’t have the distance to nail them from 50 plus metres out like Faf de Klerk tried to twice.

And it’s not like he’s ever missed a goal either, a career kicker at around 75 per cent in Test rugby.

Were Ireland's World Cup Celebrations Against South Africa Over The Top?

23 September 2023; Ireland players, from left, Hugo Keenan, Josh van der Flier, Bundee Aki and Caelan Doris celebrate a scrum penalty during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

The Pollard saviour complex is ridiculous. He would’ve missed both shots from way over 50m, at best makes the conversion and one pen for 13-all. Could easily miss one of those and Ireland win 13-10. Y’all forget he bottled the high pressure pool game against NZ in ‘19. #RSAvIRE

— Ben Smith (@bensmithrugby) September 24, 2023

READ HERE: Ex-South Africa Head Coach 'Absolutely Livid' With Referee After Ireland World Cup Win

Gregor Paul of the New Zealand Herald, was also extremely complimentary of Ireland, and compared them to great All Black teams of the past, ahead of a likely quarter-final meeting between the two sides.

"Ireland, it would seem, are now destined to meet the All Blacks in a World Cup quarterfinal and, Ireland, it would seem, are in possession of the priceless qualities the All Blacks once had but appear to have lost," wrote Paul.

"What Ireland have is self-belief in who they are and how they want to play. They have total faith in their game-drivers, their coaching staff and their strategic approach."

However, Stuart Barnes in The Times saw the game, and Ireland, differently and wrote that their celebrations after winning a late scrum suggested weakness in the the team that South Africa will look to exploit should they meet later on in the tournament.

"When Ireland did more than survive the last scrum of the game against South Africa’s fresher pack (the 7-1 split was designed for scrums five metres out with the game on the line) and won a penalty, emotions were betrayed.

"We were going crazy in the Holiday Inn Express in the northern extremes of France; what was to be expected in the furnace of the Stade de France?

"Perhaps a little more circumspect celebration, because — and here’s why this column becomes a little bit of a killjoy — Ireland have won nothing but a match.

"Celebration will be seen by the South Africans as a sign of weakness. If the two sides meet again in the final, the Springboks management will remind their players what beating them meant to Ireland."