This whole SA and Irish fans dont like each other is BS.. its all in good humor and banter. I'm a south african fan and i'm in a group of friends mixed btween Saffas , french and irish. We talk shit,we sometimes support each other or sometimes support teams who play against the other persons team just to piss them off.We agree a lot of the time and at the end of the day we each have our team and everyone wants their team to win. And you better believe the build ups to matches are just brutal and the banter is intense. Its a love hate relationship and we would'nt have it any other way
What a weird video. Some kind of weird anger manufacturing going on here. I'm Irish. I don't think we're the best team in the world. We were even beaten by England recently. Darcy is a random talking head and doesn't represent the team. Whoever wins on the day will be the better team. Simple. If you're desperate for clicks & views, try not to lose your integrity along the way fella
I attended the world cup in 2011 in Wellington in NZ. Spent a wonderful time socialising with the Irish supporters in the local pubs. They were a most entertaining and friendly bunch with me in full Springbok supporters gear.
i was also there in 2011 and was supporting Ireland as my second team...even went to Rotorua to watch them...their male supporters were such dicks...binge drinking brawlers... i switched support to Wales there after as a result of that experience...i had to explain myself to my Irish family living in Dublin ..the supporters have since redeemed themselves in my eyes.....we had differing NZ experiences you and i..
You seem to have a real bee in your bonnet about Ireland. Irish fans have no problem at all with the SA fans and have a healthy respect for SA. There will be no excuses come the summer. Let the best team win.
as a bok, i think those Irish comments were entirely reasonable and fair. the Irish are great sportstsman, unlike the poms, so let's focus on the rugby. it will be a great match up. For once here in SA
Exactly, the Irish players were happy after winning a match against a team they they thought would make a World Cup final. It was a compliment to SA. They were not disrespecting New Zealand but as professional sports men you have to have confidence you can win.
Totally agree with you. A total clickbait oriented troll. No substance or merit to what he is saying just trying to generate a negative discourse about Irish rugby for followers. Complete tosser
You clearly don't read the Irish fans comments.Many of them do think and say they are the best in the world.Eben also said the Ireland players,12 of the 23 said, we'll see you in the final at the end of their opening round game so,it's not only sone of the fans but the players too.
South African and Irish fans don’t like each other?? 🙄 Small noisy minority of social media trolls perhaps, but I think you will find great gees & craic between fans at the test matches in July in 🇿🇦
I'm not the greatest fan of the Ireland team, although that may change now that Sexton is gone. But I don't have any problems with the Irish fans. I like the Irish as a people. And at least we have a common enemy, the damn souties
Totally agree...the atmosphere before and after the match in the WC between the fans was fantastic. Social media is a toilet so expect to find a few turds.
@anotherstormer I am but I'm also pointing out that out of the thousands of other bok fans I've spoken to I've met only 3 or 4 who said they dident dislike/hate ireland and that's only because they are linked to ireland somehow weather is be parents grandparents or whatever.
You never hear the All Blacks say they are too tired and it been long season. It sounds like the Irish want suck punch the Springboks.This Irish team is very good side. They won a test series in NewZealand in 2022.They were first team win a test series in New Zealand since 1994.
Im a SA fan, but lets be honest. Rugby at the moment is at such a stage that any team can beat another on the day. I just pray that there are no injuries and all games go well.
@@albertkapenda9635 exactly what makes it difficult is you don’t just have to show up on the day and win. You have to show up every day and win for a month straight at least. Hence why it’s the hardest and biggest stage in the world.
Ireland have improved in last 5 years. I love their new mindset and belief. But let’s be honest , the Ireland tour games means nothing about who wins those games. What matters is that rugby will always win, and we wish all Irish an awesome time in our home land. I am quite happy to drink with the Irish lads after the game, win or lose
If beating them in SA doesn't count because they are tired then every time they've beat us outside of SA doesent count. There is no excuse that they can make. Also calling them "the peoples champion" is a fucking joke. Imagine if we called ourselves the peoples champion in 2011-2015 when the ABs were champions. We would be the laughing stock of world rugby
Let Ireland be the best team in the world Heck I don't even think we'll beat them (because Rasie is always experimenting] We are the undisputed world champions
Actually it's very disputable you may claim that the ref is always against you but their were some very dodgy calls in those french and Nz and England games.
Ireland can be the people's champ in their own home ground and in those other countries who support them. We will continue being their World Champions rather than the "People's champion".
@@garyoconnor8421 Yes they did and that's the only memorable win against us they will ever speak about at a world cup. Thus I still say, Ireland are too overhyped and too talked up until they show that they can't win when it matters. The six nations has become predictable,so don't even speak about their easy wins plus their opponents are weak.
Does anyone know the logic for why it's only a 2 match series? I'm pretty certain both sets of supporters would prefer a 3 match series. Is there any wiggle room in the schedules?
They are just making excuses about the end season. For the last three years, SA has played Ireland in Ireland and we never make excuses about end of the year tour.
He was NOT making excuses about anything and spent most of that interview praising the Springbok... He expressed a legimate concern about Irish players and their gametime as they looked tired towards the end of the 6 nations and the upcoming heavy schedule given Leinster likely to be in the Champions Cup and URC Semis and/or finals. Its not all about you you know.
How can the guy say they are tired now when their season align exactly with ours as we are playing in the same competitions in Europe? Then after that we have The Rugby Championship and the year end tour. We have no rest basically.
If they make excuses for having to play in SA and basically nullify our wins over them (should be beat them) then let's also nullify their wins over us in Ireland. Let's see where that math gets us.
I think it is good for the players that aging to start early for Rassie to start with younger players and get them ready for the next worldcup. So if the new team stil have to know one another and how to fit into this new team.It is a procese. BUT I do think young team or not they can win the Irish if they put their heart to it
Okay, as a South African, there’s only one reason I’d let this slide and that’s because the Irish are defiant towards the English, en in my boeke is enige iemand wat teen die rooi nekke staan, staan langs Suid Afrika.
Imagine a South African in 2015 saying that the Springboks are "the people's champions", the New Zealanders would laugh at us. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 This is an embarrassing statement to make, even as a "Joke".
No bigger a joke than a country using the excuse of experimentation every time they lose, Ireland beat them with only 14 men in SA and they called it experimenting 😂😂😂
As an Irish fan I have great respect for SA and only had good interaction with SA teams. SA teams joining the pro12 to create the URC has been great for Irish rugby. Hard to tell who has the advantage. Five years ago you could say Ireland are at the end of a season but having had a rest and SA at the beginning. This year with the NH season running later due to the World Cup, the Irish will not have had a rest if Leinster go all the way in the URC and champions cup. But then with SA teams also in the URC teams and a several Boks playing for other URC teams as well as in top14 and the premiership, the same applies to most of the Boks. Another factor is the extent the two head coaches will by trying out new players as they develop their squads. Looking to 2027 both teams will need to bring in fresh players but may do so in different ways. I look forward to two cracking tests and hope both teams are at full strength.
Great comment. I believe the Boks have immense respect for Ireland and won't be thinking of just pitching up believing, Ireland players are tired and worn out nor we'll just win because of home turf advantage. It's going to be the two best teams in the world going hammer and tong to cement their claim to be the best in the world. May the best team win.
Crazy that they don’t give the springboks some game time against provincial teams. Get the boys to play together. Shake of the rust. There is a 2 week break now. Until urc games get a stadium full and let the guys play together. Great marketing campaign for international season and SA is hungry to see the boks play again.
All I want to see is, the Irish pitch up and play a good honest game against the Boks. Not like they did in the WC, with there drinking potions and sprays for the ball to stick and the officials turning a blind eye. I have no time of any cheat in sport no matter who they play for! I remember at the end of that WC games, just smiling (felt confidant with them moving on) having just watch the Boks loose, thinking to myself and saying to friends. That was a good game (before I found out they cheated) and knew the Boks left point out there. I want to see two outstanding teams go head to head with excellent officiating.
We play in the same competitions as you. We also have half the player budgets you have. We have to play our top players in more games than you. Because you have so much more money you can build depth and use second string players more oftern, just like Leinster does. We also have to play in two seasons. The European season and then the SANZAR. Our players basically have to play all year round. I think our players have it tougher than you guys.
We don’t think we are the best team in the world, we love SA, we love the fans, we love what the URC now is.. stop trying to divide two great sets of supporters! Gordon Darcy is a tit 😂
Only thing that will beat the Boks is mindset and over-confidence. This Irish team is coming here to win. Would not surprise me if the Boks dropped the first test, and hold on to win the second. Pity it's not a 3 test series.
As a Springbok fan we shouldn't count our chickens before they hatch, Munster won two games in Gauteng you can't ignore those results how big of an impact they can play in the phycology of the Irish National team
Growing up as an Irish kid, I'd go to matches and always end up supporting the losing team. Years on we're become competitive, winning is a novelty, winning regularly is amazing, being taken seriously is incredible. Irish players , coaches and fans can't have any disrespect for any of the great rugby nations. Obviously you didn't understand Darcy, anyways ... I look forward to thrilling matches and remember not to waste my time looking at your YT channel.
You have 20 times the rugby playing population Ireland has . What do you think the record should be ? But old records count for shit really you are only as good as your last game , would you compare Brazil soccer team to SA , I don’t think you’d be so arrogant 🤪
Irish clubs have twice the budget South African clubs have. We use our own talent 99% of the time. You on the other hand buy players and coaches from other nations. You have a history of many foreigners playing for your national team. Your claim that you are a small nation with limited players is not the whole story. The moment you buy and use players from other nations their player pool basically becomes your player pool. So you claim is wrong. You have access through your money to buy players from any country you choose and you do so. The day your team is made up of players that came through the Irish system from grassroots level you can play that card. Untill then use the advantage your money gives you and be great full that you are in a position to buy such a talented group of people.
@@wlk2408 ridiculous, you have been sending your youth to Europe for years playing for under 20s other countries before poaching them back we all remember the beast he was not SA, NZ use more foreign players than Ireland . We are successful not because of money the money came after the success so don’t try hanging that on a tiny country like Ireland every country has that same opportunity.
@@davidwalker2402 Besides Beast name me another Springbok player who didn't go to school in South Africa? Beast came to South Africa from Zimbabwe when he left school. CJ Stander played professional senior rugby in South Africa when he left, same goes for Klein, Paul Willemse, WP Nel, Pierre Schoeman and so many others. Aki, Louw and Park played professional rugby in New Zealand before they left. James Louw played six games for the Mauri All Blacks, Gibson-Park played eight games. Beast didn't play a single professional game before he came to South Africa. Even if you count Beast he is one out of how many Springboks? Sorry mate your comparison doesn't make sense. As for the All Blacks, if they do the same as Ireland, it doesn't change the fact that we don't do the same.
This be fun video to come back to after Ireland beat the Boks. Although fans will say they were still building and preparing team 😂😂😂 South Africa are the worlds best at excuses
So Gordon D'Arcy is Ireland now??!! One Irish rugby pundit/former player gives his opinion and we are back to more of this exaggeration. Very reminiscent of the 'Springboks are the biggest Underdogs Ever to win the World Cup' we were getting from Boks fans after South Africa won their 4th World Cup!!! You can't make this stuff up fast enough.
I'm a Springbok fan, Proud South African, but LET'S look at the fact on how Rugby is played, Ireland is current and having been playing the best Rugby in the World, although to win a World Cup takes more than just playing good rugby. Looking forward, Ireland have structures and development in place and this make them dangerous, as their time will come. The Springboks is currently and have been during the World Cup laking the comdinations, especially in the backline on which they fail to finish-off those tries when having the "advantage", etc. Ireland is taking the best from both the Springboks & All Blacks within their structures and that makes them dangerous.
The only thing here I really take exception to us the travel excuse. Are you kidding me? The whole Irish win streak against SA has taken place in the northern hemisphere.
No it hasn’t we hammered the shit out of you with 14 men in SA in 2016 , yes we lost the tour by one score in the next 2 games, but since then we have wiped the floor with SA twice in Ireland and once in france. But if you want to go back 20 years we’ve won 8 lost 5 ..
As a Saffa I love Irish fans, no issues with the laddo's at all, some commentators and other non-playing figures being twats is universal, we had Louis Luyt he was deeply ungracious person. REF Tiredness we will be more undercooked then they will be tired, every NH November tour we do is after a long season when they are 'fresh' we never claim to be tired.
People's champains se gat man! Springboks are both, Springboks are SA's champians and Ireland's Irelands champians but how on earth can he say such a ridiculous thing. Much better interview than most English interviews though
As a SA fan I must admit its a bit pathetic that you've twisted a narrative that a few irish media presenters have said these things and claim that it is the irish team/ country who think this. Secondly you can't make a video about making "excuses" by making excuses for getting beaten in the WC. Also the point darcy was making about the irish team being tired is understandable as none of the SA teams played during the six nations and none of them are playign in the Champions cup so his point does make some sense.
His comments about the SA loss weren’t excuses - they are facts. Fact #1 They did leave a lot of points on the field (manie missed most of his kicks and faf some of his) and fact #2 the maul call was a strange one for a lot of viewers - no one said it was wrong but it wasn’t the usual call for a maul in that stage. In any case, it wasn’t an excuse and SA have never made any excuses for this loss, unlike the French fans post quarter finals where every ref decision was scrutinised and criticised.
No you are incorrect. I met a bunch of really friendly and rugby savvy supporters who were really down to the ground and really fantastic. We all agreed - before the game - that let the best team win - and after the game we all agreed that Ireland won the game fair and square. No the SA fans and Irish fans get on well and we all want RUGBY to be the winner. Sorry your view is not the majority view - Look again bud
D’Arcy retired nine years ago in 2015. He was a great centre whose career was hampered by injury. Because he was a contemporary of Brian O’Driscoll he was moved from 13 to 12 so both could play.
These tests always have some caveats as it is as Darcy says the end of the NH season, but it is always the start of our season which also has its downsides.
South Africa always starts slowly in the beginning of the season so agree Boks have no real advantage. (Remember the first test in New Zealand last year where we basically lost The Champions Cup). The only Bok players with rest advantage are the Japanese based Boks. Sounds like you're being sarcastic at the end of the video saying "peace" 😅
Dude. No one thinks this. SA are great. It’s a 50/50 between the two teams, but SA have a slight edge for home advantage I think. That’s it. It’s going to be fantastic rugby to watch no matter the outcome anyhow
Ja we'll be rusty as hell. Won't have played together pretty much since the RWC final... we'll most likely send a development squad to face Wales so the Irish test series is gonna be the first real rugby the boks are gonna play together since the RWC. So yeah, I think it will be a hell of a series
All my Saffas...listen to Saffas unscripted ( don't know if I've spelt that correctly -). It's a pod for South Africans - very relatable and the guys are young and play rugby.💚💛🇿🇦
It is unfortunate that you posted this comment. How would you like somebody to walk into your business and promote somebody else business? I think you should remove this comment and stop screwing the Saffa who owns this channel.
The Irish can't use the fact that they play in South Africa as an excuse. The last three times we played them its been in Ireland or France. Ireland should not be under estimated. They have a chance to become the first team in history to beat the All Blacks and Springboks in consecutive away series. That will put their names in the history books for ever. My concern is more about the Springboks. Will we have enough time to get our boys ready for a Irish team that are looking to make history. Most of the Irish players play for two teams so they play together all the time. Our boys are scattered all over the world and they have two new coaches. The second concern is whether Rassie will use this test series to start his preparations for 2027. If he does, we might see some interesting selections that might cost us. We are ranked number one on the IRB world rankings and we are the current World Champions. Ireland is ranked second and are the current Six Nations Champions. This is a massive series between the two best teams currently in the world. The Springboks are currently the best team in the world but Ireland has the potential and ability to take that spot away from the Springboks. Nothing bigger in the world of rugby at the moment than a Springboks vs Ireland game. We are truly blessed.
If they lose because they were tired it just means they unfit 😂 you can’t be the champion and be unfit otherwise you just hype yourself up and go home halfway through the World Cup lmao. Besides I love how he says oh but a lot of the same players have been playing and I’m like sure that’s what you call lacking depth. SA has depth so they don’t cry because they usual players are tired or injured. They just find someone to do the job and because playing for the boks is a privilege and an honour for those players rather than a means to get a pay check. What this does is whoever you entrust the job to they going to give you 100% and even end up crying in the change room like Bongi because that’s how much it means to them. The day Ireland figures that out they will reach a semi. In 2023 if you look closely 3/4 of the teams that made it were teams that have a habit of playing with heart, SA it’s established. Argentina is another than give everything on the day (I was sad to see them get stumped but it happens), the AB who also see their jersey as an honour and privilege. Only team that doesn’t follow that trend is England who had a free pass in the pools and manage to scrap past a worn out Fiji. I would have rather see Fiji get a shot rather than see England have a free first half against the boks and still find a way to lose 😂 I feel fiji would have taken more advantage of that slow first half.
The critics over analyse. We could've beat New Zealand but we didn't, cease and desist. There's nothing wrong with that, but the critics are still trying to find excuses as to why we lost. P.S. at this point any of the top 4 rugby teams could beat each other. It's not so certain who'd win anymore
The problem with the Irish, they always overplay their hand and hype themselves too much. In the world cup, beating us, the Defending and current World Champions was some sort of sign that they would beat everyone based on their running style and man did they do what they always do, lose steam when it matters most. With all due respect to the "People's Champion", they can continue dominating in the six nations and leave us to do the business at World Cups.
Let’s not get cocky. This is unnecessary, you just giving them ammunition. It’s number 1 vs number 2. It’s going to be tough. Ireland won the 6 Nations. They have had more time together.
Funny, if one pundit says Ireland are going to win a game, then the whole òf Ireland are arrogant, if a pundit says Ireland are going to lose a game then they Irish team are making excuses. We just can't win with biased SA fans and pundits. Also its pitched as a 1 v 2 again, but if SA win then it proves their status as no. 1, if Ireland win, then boks fans claim that it doesn't matter as its not a WC game.
I’m seriously tired of only the Welsh and English touring SA, same as SA November tour, look at it, always Italy, Welsh , Scottish. Who decides the fixtures. We need Irish and French…
A country with a population of 5 million people a rugby playing population 20 times less than SA playing away from home against the world champions somehow has an advantage.,😂 “NOW WHOS MAKING EXCUSES ‘ 😂😂
@YaBoi174 2 grand slams 3 6 nations 3 triple crowns. The 6 nations is the richest prize in all of rugby , we also won a lions tour and shared one and 3 European cups not bad for a tiny rugby nation and a sport we choose to be our 4th….
These Irish fans or at least there pundits are unbearable, just because you can now compete at the highest level consistently doesn't make you the best in the world. The rankings are stupid and don't mean that much. You have had a great run lately but the margins are so small that this can change quickly so when you have had a history as dominant as the All Blacks or Springboks in World Cups you can get the respect as being the best in the world but until then just be happy that you are consistently competitive and enjoy it while it lasts.
Unfair criticism of D'arcy and the Irish. He was quite complimentary, and you choose to clickbait gullible SA supporters - who you just know will rise to the bait and embarrass the rest of us - as usual.
Always fun to hear the dangers of a third world education wgere TH-cam content creators spew utterly ignorant shite about a sport they're too thick to even grasp the basics of. Good job buddy - living up to expectations perfectly!
Ireland should not be doubted, they are a slick outfit, Boks will be playing new players so even if we lose those new players will have cut their teeth against possibly the top team in the world at the moment
We don't doubt that but they talk too much before a ball has even been played only to lose when it matters most. They are one of the best running style teams but being the best means you do the business when it matters and not only dominate your peers at the six nations. For me Ireland and their pundits over sell and over hype their team. Just as much as they will be tired coming to S.A from playing in the six nations, our boys will also be tired from playing in the URC and Champions cup. So why the excuses guys?
Ireland do not think they are the best team in the world, pundits from other countries have made that statement not the Irish players management or IRFU. Also one former player saying the Irish team will be tired is not Ireland making excuses. This whole video tells us a lot more about your own insecurities than anything else.
Gordan Darcy is not Ireland, so to say Ireland are already making excuses is a pretty silly thing to come out with. He is a pundit and a former player. One set of pundits from these set of countries saying this and another set of pundits from the southern hemisphere is probably the biggest non story I have ever heard. But for you it was a huge SITUATION. “Ireland still think that they are the best team in the world”. Where did you pull that statement out of? I have not met an Irish fan who has said that or seen anyone around the Irish team. Its not “ safe to say that Irish fans don’t like South African fans” and I don’t know about South African fans. I was delighted to see South Africa win the world cup once we were out and I know many of friends who are Irish fans were the same. You don’t speak for Irish fans. Gordan Darcy said that South Africa were the world champions on Merit. Basically you guys were the best. He then heaps praise on South Africa. He specifically says Tired is probably the wrong word at one stage. He was probably looking for the word Stale. If you had followed the six nations properly you would have seen that Ireland weren’t doing anything new and the performances were tailing off. I don’t agree with Darcy that they will be tired with the travel and the end of the season. Like all major rugby teams they are serious professional athletes. I think he is wrong in saying that. It is a strange situation that this marks the end of our season effectively and the start of yours. But its always like that. Again this is one pundit speaking, NOT IRELAND. I really just hope they are amazing games. The world cup game was amazing between the sides. Hopefully Ireland will come out on top but they will have to do something pretty special to beat the mighty Boks.
Some thoughts on the stale ending to the six nations. Our attack was not as good as usual partly because we were missing two key playmakers and runners in Ringrose and Keenan and partly because both England (particularly) and Scotland showed up. The lack of rotation of players may have been a factor.
This whole SA and Irish fans dont like each other is BS.. its all in good humor and banter. I'm a south african fan and i'm in a group of friends mixed btween Saffas , french and irish. We talk shit,we sometimes support each other or sometimes support teams who play against the other persons team just to piss them off.We agree a lot of the time and at the end of the day we each have our team and everyone wants their team to win. And you better believe the build ups to matches are just brutal and the banter is intense. Its a love hate relationship and we would'nt have it any other way
We don’t mind in Ireland that SA doesn’t like us, every other country does so really we are spoilt 🤣
@@davidwalker2402 What a douchey comment.
I think it’s really all the TikTok fans making it worse
I fully agree. This is also my experience.
What a weird video. Some kind of weird anger manufacturing going on here. I'm Irish. I don't think we're the best team in the world. We were even beaten by England recently. Darcy is a random talking head and doesn't represent the team. Whoever wins on the day will be the better team. Simple. If you're desperate for clicks & views, try not to lose your integrity along the way fella
I attended the world cup in 2011 in Wellington in NZ. Spent a wonderful time socialising with the Irish supporters in the local pubs. They were a most entertaining and friendly bunch with me in full Springbok supporters gear.
i was also there in 2011 and was supporting Ireland as my second team...even went to Rotorua to watch them...their male supporters were such dicks...binge drinking brawlers...
i switched support to Wales there after as a result of that experience...i had to explain myself to my Irish family living in Dublin ..the supporters have since redeemed themselves in my eyes.....we had differing NZ experiences you and i..
You seem to have a real bee in your bonnet about Ireland. Irish fans have no problem at all with the SA fans and have a healthy respect for SA. There will be no excuses come the summer. Let the best team win.
as a bok, i think those Irish comments were entirely reasonable and fair. the Irish are great sportstsman, unlike the poms, so let's focus on the rugby. it will be a great match up. For once here in SA
Exactly, the Irish players were happy after winning a match against a team they they thought would make a World Cup final. It was a compliment to SA. They were not disrespecting New Zealand but as professional sports men you have to have confidence you can win.
Not gonna subscribe to a channel which creates fake friction between fans. Irish fans are amazing and hosting them is a pleasure and a privilege.
Stop with the click bait titles!! Ireland aren't making excuses!..Gordon D'Arcy is!!
SA fan here and Ireland won’t lose ,reckon it’ll be 1-1 .Ireland are a fantastic team.
What Irish fan is saying they're the best team in the world? This guy is just making stuff up. He's the worst guy to be making videos.
He is literally a great example of a mindless twitter drone being given a youtube channel.
Totally agree with you. A total clickbait oriented troll. No substance or merit to what he is saying just trying to generate a negative discourse about Irish rugby for followers. Complete tosser
You clearly don't read the Irish fans comments.Many of them do think and say they are the best in the world.Eben also said the Ireland players,12 of the 23 said, we'll see you in the final at the end of their opening round game so,it's not only sone of the fans but the players too.
South African and Irish fans don’t like each other?? 🙄
Small noisy minority of social media trolls perhaps, but I think you will find great gees & craic between fans at the test matches in July in 🇿🇦
Nope ireland is one of the most hated teams by bok fans. Up there with England and France
@@Forest9528 I think you can speak for yourself.
I'm not the greatest fan of the Ireland team, although that may change now that Sexton is gone. But I don't have any problems with the Irish fans. I like the Irish as a people. And at least we have a common enemy, the damn souties
Totally agree...the atmosphere before and after the match in the WC between the fans was fantastic. Social media is a toilet so expect to find a few turds.
@anotherstormer I am but I'm also pointing out that out of the thousands of other bok fans I've spoken to I've met only 3 or 4 who said they dident dislike/hate ireland and that's only because they are linked to ireland somehow weather is be parents grandparents or whatever.
You never hear the All Blacks say they are too tired and it been long season.
It sounds like the Irish want suck punch the Springboks.This Irish team is very good side.
They won a test series in NewZealand in 2022.They were first team win a test series in New Zealand since 1994.
Im a SA fan, but lets be honest. Rugby at the moment is at such a stage that any team can beat another on the day. I just pray that there are no injuries and all games go well.
Rugby’s always been like that 😂 not sure where you’ve been 😂
Then every country would have a world cup
@@albertkapenda9635 exactly what makes it difficult is you don’t just have to show up on the day and win. You have to show up every day and win for a month straight at least. Hence why it’s the hardest and biggest stage in the world.
True 💚💛🇿🇦
Have to disagree. Yes, the teams have leveled out in terms of skill, but psychology and team culture still shows levels.
Ireland have improved in last 5 years. I love their new mindset and belief. But let’s be honest , the Ireland tour games means nothing about who wins those games. What matters is that rugby will always win, and we wish all Irish an awesome time in our home land. I am quite happy to drink with the Irish lads after the game, win or lose
If beating them in SA doesn't count because they are tired then every time they've beat us outside of SA doesent count.
There is no excuse that they can make.
Also calling them "the peoples champion" is a fucking joke. Imagine if we called ourselves the peoples champion in 2011-2015 when the ABs were champions. We would be the laughing stock of world rugby
Yes it was a fucking joke... thats exactly what it was and Gordon said it was a joke. Seriously what are yez like? lol
So Leinster disrespected the URC competition, but no one talked about that. When the Bulls did it the whole of Europe was up in arms.
Let Ireland be the best team in the world
Heck I don't even think we'll beat them (because Rasie is always experimenting]
We are the undisputed world champions
Actually it's very disputable you may claim that the ref is always against you but their were some very dodgy calls in those french and Nz and England games.
@user-is9of nope it's disputable for your convenience
Facts are what history will reflect
Not the thoughts of a sideline spectator
@@user-pu7xs2tl6c fair enough
Ireland can be the people's champ in their own home ground and in those other countries who support them. We will continue being their World Champions rather than the "People's champion".
IT WAS A JOKE!!!!!! Give me strength!!
@@kerrylass2 Joke or not, we actually don't care.
Ireland beat ye in France that's not tere home
@@garyoconnor8421 Yes they did and that's the only memorable win against us they will ever speak about at a world cup. Thus I still say, Ireland are too overhyped and too talked up until they show that they can't win when it matters. The six nations has become predictable,so don't even speak about their easy wins plus their opponents are weak.
Gordon Darcy? Are you for real equating him with the Irish team's mindframe?
Does anyone know the logic for why it's only a 2 match series? I'm pretty certain both sets of supporters would prefer a 3 match series. Is there any wiggle room in the schedules?
Irish fan here and I can tell you we have no problem with SA fans actually I quite like their passion for their team and rugby in general.
No excuses. When we play abroad, nobody says.. BUT the Springboks played in Eng/Ireland etc.
That’s the clickbaitiest title to date! 🤣
They are just making excuses about the end season. For the last three years, SA has played Ireland in Ireland and we never make excuses about end of the year tour.
He was NOT making excuses about anything and spent most of that interview praising the Springbok... He expressed a legimate concern about Irish players and their gametime as they looked tired towards the end of the 6 nations and the upcoming heavy schedule given Leinster likely to be in the Champions Cup and URC Semis and/or finals. Its not all about you you know.
How can the guy say they are tired now when their season align exactly with ours as we are playing in the same competitions in Europe? Then after that we have The Rugby Championship and the year end tour. We have no rest basically.
If they make excuses for having to play in SA and basically nullify our wins over them (should be beat them) then let's also nullify their wins over us in Ireland.
Let's see where that math gets us.
One persons opinion doesn't represent what 'Ireland' thinks. You saffas get triggered so easily.
He’s a former player who hasn’t been on a pitch in a long time.. stop taking what he says so seriously ffs
I think it is good for the players that aging to start early for Rassie to start with younger players and get them ready for the next worldcup. So if the new team stil have to know one another and how to fit into this new team.It is a procese. BUT I do think young team or not they can win the Irish if they put their heart to it
Okay, as a South African, there’s only one reason I’d let this slide and that’s because the Irish are defiant towards the English, en in my boeke is enige iemand wat teen die rooi nekke staan, staan langs Suid Afrika.
Let it slide??? What are you going to do???? Tough guy!
Ireland is a good team, but they need to cycle their players more. If they are tired it's because they have very little depth
We have no depth, we have 4 professional teams ! And thats the lot
Imagine a South African in 2015 saying that the Springboks are "the people's champions", the New Zealanders would laugh at us. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 This is an embarrassing statement to make, even as a "Joke".
1st of all which people are calling Ireland the people's champion?
@@kayisetuswa7545 Irish people perhaps? 🤔 Who else would do that? 🤣
No bigger a joke than a country using the excuse of experimentation every time they lose, Ireland beat them with only 14 men in SA and they called it experimenting 😂😂😂
@moses I don't understand the context please explain
@davidwalker2402 sounds to me like you guys are exactly this 2months before the game?
Going to be a great game , look forward !
Gordon is clueless. We await the Irish💪💪🇿🇦🚲
Only Ireland think they are best in the world that why they won 4 world cups😂😂😂😂
As an Irish fan I have great respect for SA and only had good interaction with SA teams. SA teams joining the pro12 to create the URC has been great for Irish rugby. Hard to tell who has the advantage. Five years ago you could say Ireland are at the end of a season but having had a rest and SA at the beginning. This year with the NH season running later due to the World Cup, the Irish will not have had a rest if Leinster go all the way in the URC and champions cup. But then with SA teams also in the URC teams and a several Boks playing for other URC teams as well as in top14 and the premiership, the same applies to most of the Boks. Another factor is the extent the two head coaches will by trying out new players as they develop their squads. Looking to 2027 both teams will need to bring in fresh players but may do so in different ways. I look forward to two cracking tests and hope both teams are at full strength.
Great comment. I believe the Boks have immense respect for Ireland and won't be thinking of just pitching up believing, Ireland players are tired and worn out nor we'll just win because of home turf advantage. It's going to be the two best teams in the world going hammer and tong to cement their claim to be the best in the world. May the best team win.
Ireland tired but played in well. we are rusty. and probably experimenting. itll be close
Crazy that they don’t give the springboks some game time against provincial teams. Get the boys to play together. Shake of the rust. There is a 2 week break now. Until urc games get a stadium full and let the guys play together. Great marketing campaign for international season and SA is hungry to see the boks play again.
When was the last time SA beat Ireland ?? Just curious 🤔 .....
All I want to see is, the Irish pitch up and play a good honest game against the Boks. Not like they did in the WC, with there drinking potions and sprays for the ball to stick and the officials turning a blind eye. I have no time of any cheat in sport no matter who they play for! I remember at the end of that WC games, just smiling (felt confidant with them moving on) having just watch the Boks loose, thinking to myself and saying to friends. That was a good game (before I found out they cheated) and knew the Boks left point out there. I want to see two outstanding teams go head to head with excellent officiating.
Your mad ,
Discount the Irish at your peril.
Just a reminder, Ireland have played the same amount world cup finals as South Sudan.
And the same amount of semi-finals as Burundi.
Just a reminder.. you are paying way too much attention to a former player making comments .. the team or the coaches aren’t doing this
Must suck to have lost your last three games against a side who has played in as many world cup finals as South Sudan, ouch!
@@dairet1945
Not really.
You gotta win it counts.
@@johno6022 Thats the greatest load of horse shit. Jeez SA fans are up their own hole 😆
i am rsa fan been on opening match of aviva stadium ire vs sa great fans lots of hype normal to be suportive of your team
Gordon Darcy is half right considering the amount of times our provinces have played in recent times.
We play in the same competitions as you. We also have half the player budgets you have. We have to play our top players in more games than you. Because you have so much more money you can build depth and use second string players more oftern, just like Leinster does. We also have to play in two seasons. The European season and then the SANZAR. Our players basically have to play all year round. I think our players have it tougher than you guys.
We don’t think we are the best team in the world, we love SA, we love the fans, we love what the URC now is.. stop trying to divide two great sets of supporters! Gordon Darcy is a tit 😂
Only thing that will beat the Boks is mindset and over-confidence. This Irish team is coming here to win. Would not surprise me if the Boks dropped the first test, and hold on to win the second. Pity it's not a 3 test series.
As a Springbok fan we shouldn't count our chickens before they hatch, Munster won two games in Gauteng you can't ignore those results how big of an impact they can play in the phycology of the Irish National team
Growing up as an Irish kid, I'd go to matches and always end up supporting the losing team. Years on we're become competitive, winning is a novelty, winning regularly is amazing, being taken seriously is incredible. Irish players , coaches and fans can't have any disrespect for any of the great rugby nations. Obviously you didn't understand Darcy, anyways ... I look forward to thrilling matches and remember not to waste my time looking at your YT channel.
what happens if Ireland beat SA AGAIN , does it count ?
look at the all games record Sprinboks vs Ireland...
You have 20 times the rugby playing population Ireland has . What do you think the record should be ? But old records count for shit really you are only as good as your last game , would you compare Brazil soccer team to SA , I don’t think you’d be so arrogant 🤪
Irish clubs have twice the budget South African clubs have. We use our own talent 99% of the time. You on the other hand buy players and coaches from other nations. You have a history of many foreigners playing for your national team. Your claim that you are a small nation with limited players is not the whole story. The moment you buy and use players from other nations their player pool basically becomes your player pool. So you claim is wrong. You have access through your money to buy players from any country you choose and you do so. The day your team is made up of players that came through the Irish system from grassroots level you can play that card. Untill then use the advantage your money gives you and be great full that you are in a position to buy such a talented group of people.
Stop taking everything pundits say so seriously it’s ridiculous
@@wlk2408 ridiculous, you have been sending your youth to Europe for years playing for under 20s other countries before poaching them back we all remember the beast he was not SA, NZ use more foreign players than Ireland . We are successful not because of money the money came after the success so don’t try hanging that on a tiny country like Ireland every country has that same opportunity.
@@davidwalker2402 Besides Beast name me another Springbok player who didn't go to school in South Africa? Beast came to South Africa from Zimbabwe when he left school.
CJ Stander played professional senior rugby in South Africa when he left, same goes for Klein, Paul Willemse, WP Nel, Pierre Schoeman and so many others. Aki, Louw and Park played professional rugby in New Zealand before they left. James Louw played six games for the Mauri All Blacks, Gibson-Park played eight games.
Beast didn't play a single professional game before he came to South Africa. Even if you count Beast he is one out of how many Springboks? Sorry mate your comparison doesn't make sense.
As for the All Blacks, if they do the same as Ireland, it doesn't change the fact that we don't do the same.
Irfu do rest their top players throughout the season....my prediction is 1 each with boks winning handily in the second test...
This be fun video to come back to after Ireland beat the Boks. Although fans will say they were still building and preparing team 😂😂😂 South Africa are the worlds best at excuses
And South Africa are 4 time world championship
So Gordon D'Arcy is Ireland now??!! One Irish rugby pundit/former player gives his opinion and we are back to more of this exaggeration. Very reminiscent of the 'Springboks are the biggest Underdogs Ever to win the World Cup' we were getting from Boks fans after South Africa won their 4th World Cup!!! You can't make this stuff up fast enough.
I'm a Springbok fan, Proud South African, but LET'S look at the fact on how Rugby is played, Ireland is current and having been playing the best Rugby in the World, although to win a World Cup takes more than just playing good rugby. Looking forward, Ireland have structures and development in place and this make them dangerous, as their time will come. The Springboks is currently and have been during the World Cup laking the comdinations, especially in the backline on which they fail to finish-off those tries when having the "advantage", etc. Ireland is taking the best from both the Springboks & All Blacks within their structures and that makes them dangerous.
The only thing here I really take exception to us the travel excuse. Are you kidding me? The whole Irish win streak against SA has taken place in the northern hemisphere.
No it hasn’t we hammered the shit out of you with 14 men in SA in 2016 , yes we lost the tour by one score in the next 2 games, but since then we have wiped the floor with SA twice in Ireland and once in france. But if you want to go back 20 years we’ve won 8 lost 5 ..
As a Saffa I love Irish fans, no issues with the laddo's at all, some commentators and other non-playing figures being twats is universal, we had Louis Luyt he was deeply ungracious person.
REF Tiredness we will be more undercooked then they will be tired, every NH November tour we do is after a long season when they are 'fresh' we never claim to be tired.
Lol come on dont use gordon darcy against us and act like it's "ireland" making excuses.
So D’arcy has nothing but good things to say about SA and states a few facts and you think he’s making excuses. Stop talking absolute shite
People's champains se gat man! Springboks are both, Springboks are SA's champians and Ireland's Irelands champians but how on earth can he say such a ridiculous thing. Much better interview than most English interviews though
As a SA fan I must admit its a bit pathetic that you've twisted a narrative that a few irish media presenters have said these things and claim that it is the irish team/ country who think this. Secondly you can't make a video about making "excuses" by making excuses for getting beaten in the WC. Also the point darcy was making about the irish team being tired is understandable as none of the SA teams played during the six nations and none of them are playign in the Champions cup so his point does make some sense.
His comments about the SA loss weren’t excuses - they are facts. Fact #1 They did leave a lot of points on the field (manie missed most of his kicks and faf some of his) and fact #2 the maul call was a strange one for a lot of viewers - no one said it was wrong but it wasn’t the usual call for a maul in that stage. In any case, it wasn’t an excuse and SA have never made any excuses for this loss, unlike the French fans post quarter finals where every ref decision was scrutinised and criticised.
No you are incorrect. I met a bunch of really friendly and rugby savvy supporters who were really down to the ground and really fantastic. We all agreed - before the game - that let the best team win - and after the game we all agreed that Ireland won the game fair and square. No the SA fans and Irish fans get on well and we all want RUGBY to be the winner. Sorry your view is not the majority view - Look again bud
Im pretty sure darcy retired about 5yrs ago and thats his opinion,you won't hear any excuses fro within the camp
D’Arcy retired nine years ago in 2015. He was a great centre whose career was hampered by injury. Because he was a contemporary of Brian O’Driscoll he was moved from 13 to 12 so both could play.
Boks sending them home on zero plate...but they welcome anyway
These tests always have some caveats as it is as Darcy says the end of the NH season, but it is always the start of our season which also has its downsides.
And it is the other way around with what in the NH is called the autumn series.
South Africa always starts slowly in the beginning of the season so agree Boks have no real advantage. (Remember the first test in New Zealand last year where we basically lost The Champions Cup). The only Bok players with rest advantage are the Japanese based Boks. Sounds like you're being sarcastic at the end of the video saying "peace" 😅
Dude. No one thinks this. SA are great. It’s a 50/50 between the two teams, but SA have a slight edge for home advantage I think. That’s it. It’s going to be fantastic rugby to watch no matter the outcome anyhow
tired is the wrong word he said - and a fantastic series - no excuse - saffas unscripted said SA might rusty and not practiced enough
Ja we'll be rusty as hell. Won't have played together pretty much since the RWC final... we'll most likely send a development squad to face Wales so the Irish test series is gonna be the first real rugby the boks are gonna play together since the RWC. So yeah, I think it will be a hell of a series
All my Saffas...listen to Saffas unscripted ( don't know if I've spelt that correctly -). It's a pod for South Africans - very relatable and the guys are young and play rugby.💚💛🇿🇦
It is unfortunate that you posted this comment. How would you like somebody to walk into your business and promote somebody else business? I think you should remove this comment and stop screwing the Saffa who owns this channel.
As the All Blacks said playing in Johannesburg is the most hostile place to play. We are welcoming the Irish team and fans to Johannesburg.🙂
around the scrum,i mean😢
We know we are one of the best team in the world. No best team .
Who is making the excuses? Why not wait for the match and enjoy?
Strange video this fella has a real bee in his bonet for some reason very odd
Quite a story…Gordon’s
The Bokke will be uphazed, not to worry‼️
👊🔥🥂
🪖
Ek is n South African,en ja ek vote for bokke....But be very,very versigtig for the Irish.....Special nr 9 and 10
D'Arcy didn't really say anything outrageous. You're all obsessed...
Y'ALL HEARD THE MAN RIGHT, IF YOU THINK SPRINGBOKS ARE GONNA BEAT IRELAND HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON
The Irish can't use the fact that they play in South Africa as an excuse. The last three times we played them its been in Ireland or France.
Ireland should not be under estimated. They have a chance to become the first team in history to beat the All Blacks and Springboks in consecutive away series. That will put their names in the history books for ever.
My concern is more about the Springboks. Will we have enough time to get our boys ready for a Irish team that are looking to make history. Most of the Irish players play for two teams so they play together all the time. Our boys are scattered all over the world and they have two new coaches. The second concern is whether Rassie will use this test series to start his preparations for 2027. If he does, we might see some interesting selections that might cost us.
We are ranked number one on the IRB world rankings and we are the current World Champions. Ireland is ranked second and are the current Six Nations Champions. This is a massive series between the two best teams currently in the world. The Springboks are currently the best team in the world but Ireland has the potential and ability to take that spot away from the Springboks. Nothing bigger in the world of rugby at the moment than a Springboks vs Ireland game. We are truly blessed.
8:52
World Cup quarter final champions more like it 😂 also world rankings number 1 champions 👏
The Irish are full of excuses just as they were when they got knocked out in the quarters. Gordon is a comedian
If they lose because they were tired it just means they unfit 😂 you can’t be the champion and be unfit otherwise you just hype yourself up and go home halfway through the World Cup lmao. Besides I love how he says oh but a lot of the same players have been playing and I’m like sure that’s what you call lacking depth. SA has depth so they don’t cry because they usual players are tired or injured. They just find someone to do the job and because playing for the boks is a privilege and an honour for those players rather than a means to get a pay check. What this does is whoever you entrust the job to they going to give you 100% and even end up crying in the change room like Bongi because that’s how much it means to them. The day Ireland figures that out they will reach a semi.
In 2023 if you look closely 3/4 of the teams that made it were teams that have a habit of playing with heart, SA it’s established. Argentina is another than give everything on the day (I was sad to see them get stumped but it happens), the AB who also see their jersey as an honour and privilege. Only team that doesn’t follow that trend is England who had a free pass in the pools and manage to scrap past a worn out Fiji. I would have rather see Fiji get a shot rather than see England have a free first half against the boks and still find a way to lose 😂 I feel fiji would have taken more advantage of that slow first half.
The critics over analyse. We could've beat New Zealand but we didn't, cease and desist. There's nothing wrong with that, but the critics are still trying to find excuses as to why we lost.
P.S. at this point any of the top 4 rugby teams could beat each other. It's not so certain who'd win anymore
The problem with the Irish, they always overplay their hand and hype themselves too much. In the world cup, beating us, the Defending and current World Champions was some sort of sign that they would beat everyone based on their running style and man did they do what they always do, lose steam when it matters most. With all due respect to the "People's Champion", they can continue dominating in the six nations and leave us to do the business at World Cups.
Excuses?? Sounds like you're making plenty of your own for the Boks boi 😆
4 time world champions. It's usually those who lost that make the excuses.
Let’s not get cocky. This is unnecessary, you just giving them ammunition. It’s number 1 vs number 2. It’s going to be tough. Ireland won the 6 Nations. They have had more time together.
So you’re just flipping what D’Arcy said. Does that mean you’re making excuses for if SA loose? It’s just discussion.
Funny, if one pundit says Ireland are going to win a game, then the whole òf Ireland are arrogant, if a pundit says Ireland are going to lose a game then they Irish team are making excuses. We just can't win with biased SA fans and pundits. Also its pitched as a 1 v 2 again, but if SA win then it proves their status as no. 1, if Ireland win, then boks fans claim that it doesn't matter as its not a WC game.
Tied series. 1 : 1
I’m seriously tired of only the Welsh and English touring SA, same as SA November tour, look at it, always Italy, Welsh , Scottish. Who decides the fixtures. We need Irish and French…
irish you can never be the best without even one stupid WC win lol.
Why do commentators keep quoting Darcey, he's always looking for a sound bite and making weird comments. Ask the experts.
A country with a population of 5 million people a rugby playing population 20 times less than SA playing away from home against the world champions somehow has an advantage.,😂 “NOW WHOS MAKING EXCUSES ‘ 😂😂
More excuses from supposed best team in the world 😂
At the end of the day same amount of players on each team
@@HS-mo2wzin 2016 in SA we beat the living shit out of you with 14 men for 65 minutes, both teams didn’t have the same amount of men on that day 🤣🤣🤣
@@davidwalker2402 Bro, you're embarrassing us. Stop being a douche.
@YaBoi174 and since then we have beaten you in every game we played 🤣🤣🤣
@YaBoi174 2 grand slams 3 6 nations 3 triple crowns. The 6 nations is the richest prize in all of rugby , we also won a lions tour and shared one and 3 European cups not bad for a tiny rugby nation and a sport we choose to be our 4th….
Psychology 101
These Irish fans or at least there pundits are unbearable, just because you can now compete at the highest level consistently doesn't make you the best in the world. The rankings are stupid and don't mean that much. You have had a great run lately but the margins are so small that this can change quickly so when you have had a history as dominant as the All Blacks or Springboks in World Cups you can get the respect as being the best in the world but until then just be happy that you are consistently competitive and enjoy it while it lasts.
Seriously, you are clueless, there is no bad feeling between Ireland and SF fans .
Unfair criticism of D'arcy and the Irish. He was quite complimentary, and you choose to clickbait gullible SA supporters - who you just know will rise to the bait and embarrass the rest of us - as usual.
Gordon D'Arcy = Ireland, according to this mullet. Go practice your bass guitar some more.
Always fun to hear the dangers of a third world education wgere TH-cam content creators spew utterly ignorant shite about a sport they're too thick to even grasp the basics of.
Good job buddy - living up to expectations perfectly!
Bokke all the way
Oh I thought they are the best team in the world seem no its SA
Gordon Darcy doesn't represent what 'Ireland' thinks. The only one making excuses is you for SA losing to Ireland at the world cup.
After your first minute of talking about lreland making excuses you talk about decisions dodge in the match in the world cup is that not excuses 😅
Irish Fans don't like SA fans & vice versa - is totally not true
Ireland should not be doubted, they are a slick outfit, Boks will be playing new players so even if we lose those new players will have cut their teeth against possibly the top team in the world at the moment
We don't doubt that but they talk too much before a ball has even been played only to lose when it matters most. They are one of the best running style teams but being the best means you do the business when it matters and not only dominate your peers at the six nations. For me Ireland and their pundits over sell and over hype their team. Just as much as they will be tired coming to S.A from playing in the six nations, our boys will also be tired from playing in the URC and Champions cup. So why the excuses guys?
Ireland do not think they are the best team in the world, pundits from other countries have made that statement not the Irish players management or IRFU. Also one former player saying the Irish team will be tired is not Ireland making excuses. This whole video tells us a lot more about your own insecurities than anything else.
Ireland said nothing, an X player said something, your talking trash
Who is Ireland?
It sounds like you guys are making excuses for when Ireland beat you...again.
Gordan Darcy is not Ireland, so to say Ireland are already making excuses is a pretty silly thing to come out with. He is a pundit and a former player.
One set of pundits from these set of countries saying this and another set of pundits from the southern hemisphere is probably the biggest non story I have ever heard. But for you it was a huge SITUATION.
“Ireland still think that they are the best team in the world”. Where did you pull that statement out of? I have not met an Irish fan who has said that or seen anyone around the Irish team.
Its not “ safe to say that Irish fans don’t like South African fans” and I don’t know about South African fans. I was delighted to see South Africa win the world cup once we were out and I know many of friends who are Irish fans were the same. You don’t speak for Irish fans.
Gordan Darcy said that South Africa were the world champions on Merit. Basically you guys were the best. He then heaps praise on South Africa.
He specifically says Tired is probably the wrong word at one stage. He was probably looking for the word Stale. If you had followed the six nations properly you would have seen that Ireland weren’t doing anything new and the performances were tailing off.
I don’t agree with Darcy that they will be tired with the travel and the end of the season. Like all major rugby teams they are serious professional athletes. I think he is wrong in saying that. It is a strange situation that this marks the end of our season effectively and the start of yours. But its always like that. Again this is one pundit speaking, NOT IRELAND.
I really just hope they are amazing games. The world cup game was amazing between the sides. Hopefully Ireland will come out on top but they will have to do something pretty special to beat the mighty Boks.
Some thoughts on the stale ending to the six nations. Our attack was not as good as usual partly because we were missing two key playmakers and runners in Ringrose and Keenan and partly because both England (particularly) and Scotland showed up. The lack of rotation of players may have been a factor.