A story of "Real Champs" vs "People's Champs" Part 1: The Origin

2023 was meant to be their year, however, a much needed victory over the greatest test nation in the history of the sport evaded them in an all too familiar setting: The Rugby World Cup qaurter-final. A stage that the then number one ranked side in the world, have failed to make it past.

This year, the two nations who currently hold the most animosity to each other in test rugby will settle the score when Ireland tour South Africa in a two match series, taking place on July 6. 

Fresh off a back-to-back 6Nations campaign, that was one win short of sealing the back-to-back grand slam, ladies and gentleman we present to you the team with the second longest unbeatean run (17 matches) in test rugby history, the self-proclaimed "People's Champions" the Irish national rugby team.

In the other corner, a team that has only competed in eight of the 10 Rugby World Cups, winning four, and claiming two back-to-back titles recently. They are also the current reigning World Champions having lost just two of their last 13 games. Ladies and gentleman, we present to you the South African national rugby team, "The Real Champs" the Springboks.

Over the last few years, tensions have gotten high between these two sides. Traditionally for the South Africans, their biggest adversary in the Northern Hemisphere has always been England, while Wales have always been somewhat of an achilles to the Springboks, brandishing a similar style of play. 

However, over the Celtic mountains, the Irish were beginning to brew a strategy of world dominance when they named current coach Andy Farrell replacing Joe Schmidt whom he served under. Prior to Schmidts departure, the Irish were beggining to find form, with the first and the most emphatic of their victories against the Springboks occuring on 13 November 2017, in a 38-3 demolition of the South Africans.

Little did we know that defeat would not only lay the foundation of what has become a heated rivalry, but would send the Irish into an 8 game unbeaten run, including a 6Nations title in the process, before suffering their first loss (18-9) at the hands of the wallbies down under.

However, that would prove insignificant as that only spurred the Irish to win the next two games, clinching the series 2-1, and earning their first ever series win on Australian soil. The Irish would go on to remain unbeaten that year, earning landmark wins over the likes of Argentina (28-17) and New Zealand (16-9).

The victory against the All Blacks was the one that had everyone raising their eyebrows, with regards to the danger that this team posed. 

Ireland would then fall victim to their much discussed curse of peaking right before a world cup year, failing to retain their 6Nations title and losing three games in the build-up to the 2019 world cup. The world cup saw another dismal performance by the Irish, losing to hosts Japan in a shock result, before getting blown out 46-14 by the All Blacks in the qaurter-final, a stage Ireland have never made it past.

 After a dismal World Cup, Schmidt was sacked, and Farrell stepped up. 2020 was not as kind to Ireland either, as they finished 3rd in the 6nations losing to rivals England and France. The Covid-19 pandemic saw the cancellation of two tests in Australia. The year would end in a loss for the Celtic men. After beating Italy 50-27, the French would then hand Ireland their 4th loss of that year.

It is in 2021 however, that the best of the Irish players, would get the oppurtunity to indulge in a feeling out process with the World Champion Springboks, as the British and Irish Lions made their way to Africa for the first time since 2009. 

This All-Star sqaud comprised of superstars from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, were all eager to prove to the Southern Hemisphere that rugby was now dominated by the north.

In a team filled with English players reeling from a painful world cup final loss to the South Africans two years prior, and a South African born Scottish player in Duhan van der Merwe ready to prove why him switching countries was not a a mistake, the ground for an epic three match series was laid down. 

Meanwhile, ever-since losing their match against the Irish, South Africa had made adjustments that saw them rise to the peak of World Rugby again. As much as the Irish had improved, South Africa were also a far-cry from the disorganised team that they had last faced. It was now that questions were going to be answered. 

Enter the Springboks! To be continued...