As Ireland battled away against South Africa in a war of attrition and will, two of the country's biggest sports stars Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were watching on as part of the 30,000-strong Irish support there to support the Ireland rugby team.
The golfing duo were just two of a host of Irish celebrities and sporting stars who converged on Paris for this weekend's encounter. However, none delivered like the Co.Down and Co. Offaly men.
Ireland took on South Africa in an absolutely breathless game in Paris that saw two of the best sides in the world clash head-on-head. Ireland went in at halftime four points up despite delivering a mistake-ridden opening 40 minutes. However, despite being off the mark Ireland won the Trojan battle 13-8.
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Mack Hansen goes over and Ireland lead South Africa! ☘️
📺 Watch https://t.co/X7cSkZilkC…
📱 Updates https://t.co/rU6OV0cnGL…
📻 https://t.co/MBTch4SP3B pic.twitter.com/Hl9z0D37o7— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) September 23, 2023
World Rugby released some great footage of McIlroy and Lowry watching Hansen's try. As you'd expect, Lowry is a bit more passionate in his celebrations (and credit to the lad beside him for going all in on the 'hup ya boya' celebration with the Clara man)
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry the moment Ireland scored against the Springboks 🍀 #rugby #RSAvIRE #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/Or7AcfvdGa
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 24, 2023
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry on the Ireland rugby team
On Wednesday, RubyPass shared the extended chat that McIlroy and Lowry had on the touchline with Jim Hamilton.
Speaking before kickoff, McIlroy was asked by Hamilton to rank an possible Irish World Cup win in the pantheon of national sporting achievement.
His answer clearly pleased his Ryder Cup teammate.
The last thing that's happened in Ireland that would be as big as Ireland winning the World Cup was this man [points to Lowry] winning the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in 2019. I don't think there'd be anything like it in the history of the country. We're counting our chickens before they hatch a little bit, but it would be a monumental achievement. Chances like this don't come around very often. They have to make the most of it.
You can watch the full interview below, as well as Hamilton's chat with Dan Leavy prematch and fulltime.
They also discussed where McIlroy and Lowry would fit in a rugby XV.
I was gonna say (Rory McIlroy is) a little scrum half here beside me.
Hamilton then brutally revealed that he'd Lowry slotted in at no.1 in the front row. A point that left two of Ireland's top professional sportspeople in stitches, with Lowry wanting absolutely nothing to do with the might of the front row. Poor Dave Kilcoyne caught a few strays.
Have you seen the size these fellas. I'll run the water or bring out the kicking tee or something. I'll be like the head of entertainment in there.
Rory Mcilroy at scrum-half? Shane Lowry in the front row?
Catch The Big Jim Show Live for all the after match reactions on RugbyPass TV! #RWC2023 | #RSAvIRE pic.twitter.com/gToBTqcx7w— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 23, 2023
While we'd have some reservations about lining Lowry out in front of the South African front rows, considering his own winning celebrations, we'd have no less than full confidence in his entertainment abilities.
McIlroy who seemed in flying form was also quick to say that an '110 kg' Jon Rahm could get a game on the rugby pitch, with both him and Lowry in agreement that he'd make a good backrower.
Both Lowry and McIlroy who are key members of Team Europe in this weekend's Ryder Cup will be hoping they have similar success to the Ireland rugby team on Saturday.
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