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Beating Ireland is a point of pride for the Boks

The Mercury

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November 21, 2025

WHEN looking at the bigger picture - the one that will be presented to South Africa on December 3 - the Test between the Springboks and Ireland this weekend will add neither detail nor brushstroke to the overall portrait.

The truth is that when World Rugby conducts the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup on that day, the Springboks will be the No 1-ranked team in the world, the defending World Cup champions, Rugby Championship titleholders, and British and Irish Lions series winners. No amount of noise from our Argentine, Australian, or New Zealand counterparts can alter that fact, nor can any northern-hemisphere doubt dissuade anyone from recognising it.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA The Mercury

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