Although Ireland's recent tour of South Africa saw them win their first away test against the Springboks and fall agonisingly short of a series win, their captain, Rory Best, insisted that the Springboks were as physically strong as ever.
Although Ireland's recent tour of South Africa saw them win their first away test against the Springboks and fall agonisingly short of a series win, their captain, Rory Best, insisted that the Springboks were as physically strong as ever.
Speaking after Ireland's 19-13 loss to the Springboks in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, Best said: "I think a lot of the talk about them losing their physicality has probably taken away from what we brought."
"Like you saw certainly in the last 20 minutes in Johannesburg, when they get front foot ball and they get big carriers into the game – for me, they haven't lost that edge at all. They have big men and they carry – and they carry very hard."
"We fired into them as best we could. At times, the sheer size and force of them, they do get front foot ball. But you know, I've played against South Africa a few times and I don't think this team has lost their edge in any regard."
Although Ireland came close to what would have been their first series victory in South Africa, Best insisted he was not satisfied.
When asked what his overriding emotion was following the series the hooker said: "Obviously, we're disappointed. You know, probably, before we left Dublin, people had written us off.
"There was a lot of talk about us winning one game and creating history – but withing the group, we felt we could come here and win a test series, and obviously, after Cape Town, we put ourselves in a fantastic position to do that."
"To have fallen short is obviously bitterly disappointing. I think with it being a six point game in all three tests – it shows how tight it was."
