Springbok flank Pieter-Steph du Toit tries to get an offload away to Cheslin Kolbe during against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld earlier in 2024. Springbok flank Pieter-Steph du Toit tries to get an offload away to Cheslin Kolbe during against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld earlier in 2024. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP
Designated Survivor on Netflix had us gripped for three seasons until it was cancelled because of “contractual issues and logistical challenges”.
Season 3 ends on a massive bombshell, but they ended up leaving us hanging, not knowing how things would have played out. That thirst will now forever be go unquenched. It’s not fair ...
Most of us have the same sort of feelings when it comes to the Springboks vs Ireland in 2024, a match-up that deserved a third instalment after two epic Test matches in Pretoria and Durban. We’re now left standing and sitting around like the guy in that meme, waiting for a part three that would have settled the debate about who is the real No 1 team in the world.
The two teams should have had a Six Nations champions versus the Rugby Championship winners showdown during the November tour. Instead the Springboks will face Wales, Scotland and England. A bit of an anti-climax to a spectacular rugby year ...
Ending off that tour with a Grand Slam clash against the Irish is what the rugby world is craving.
Officially Ireland are No 1 in the world, because of World Rugby’s ranking system. The Springboks have followed up their Rugby World Cup triumph with a Rugby Championship title by beating the All Blacks twice on home soil. But they are No 2 because of a one-point defeat against Argentina’s Los Pumas away.
Some would argue that Ireland can’t be considered to be No 1 because they have never reached a World Cup semi-final. Others will argue that the Springboks blew their chance in Durban to show that they are truly the best.
The All Blacks’ November tour is much more appetising, as they face England, Ireland and France. Maybe the Boks can give them Wales or Scotland in exchange for another crack at Ireland?
The Springboks may still top the rankings at the end of the year if Ireland come up short against the likes of the All Blacks, but it just feels like we won’t get any closure until South Africa and Ireland meet again.
Until then, the debates will still range on around the braai in South Africa and in the pub with a Guinness in Ireland.
It’s going to be “in our head, in our head, in our head” for some time to come ...
@JohnGoliath82
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