After a successful Six Nations Peter O’Mahony’s men will now face the sternest test of all against the world champions
It was not quite what the Irish were dreaming of after maximum points from the first three rounds, but back-to-back championships puts this Ireland team in a small elite of Six Nations champions. They become the sixth team to have managed the feat and, interestingly, only the third, after Wales in 2012-13 and England in 2016-2017, to follow up a grand slam with the title. It is as if teams really want to beat you when you are grand-slam champions.
Peter O’Mahony had the air of a satisfied man. Twelve years after his Ireland debut, this has been his first full campaign as captain. It was, perhaps harshly, pointed out to him that he had never won a thing in nigh on 15 years as a captain (of Munster and intermittently Ireland), and now he has won twice in 10 months (Munster won the United Rugby Championship in May).
Written by Michael Aylwin
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/mar/18/ireland-ready-themselves-for-south-africa-as-scotland-rue-near-misses under the title “Ireland ready themselves for South Africa as Scotland rue near misses”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
