Sam Warburton risks Springboks fans’ wrath with bold statement on ‘complete’ Ireland

Sam Warburton TNT analysis and former Wales international ahead of the Heineken Champions Cup match Exeter Chiefs vs Munster at Sandy Park, Exeter, United Kingdom, 17th December 2023(Photo by Craig Thomas/News Images)

British and Irish Lions legend Sam Warburton believes that Ireland are an even better team than the all-conquering Springboks side.

South Africa became world champions for a record fourth time when they lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2023.

It was also the Boks’ second successive Rugby World Cup triumph after they won in 2019, but that hasn’t stopped Warburton from putting Andy Farrell’s men ahead of them.

Ireland have dominated the 2024 Six Nations so far and look likely to secure another title, following on from their victory last year.

Potential history

Only England and Scotland stand in the way of this Irish outfit, who are seeking to become the first side to win back-to-back Grand Slams in the Six Nations era.

Asked whether either or both of those two teams could upset them, the Wales legend responded: “No,” before adding: “[But] I think Scotland will have a real good crack.”

No country has got near Ireland in 2024, with Farrell’s charges winning by margins of 21, 36 and 24 points against France, Italy and Wales, respectively.

Jonathan Davies last week argued that the Irishmen were the best team in the world and Warburton has agreed with that assessment.

“I watch Ireland and I’m genuinely in awe of how they’re playing. I can cast my mind back to when I was playing for the couple of seasons when Wales were pretty good. We weren’t near that level,” he told the BBC Rugby Union Daily podcast.

“Their work-rate off the ball, both sides in attack and defence. The accuracy is almost unseen at international level. How comfortable they are, everyone just gets into shape so quickly.

“I thought it was crushing for them in the World Cup [losing their quarter-final against New Zealand], but they’ve responded so well.

“South African fans will hate me for saying this, but I still think they [Ireland] are the best team in the world. I’ve just never seen a team that’s that complete.”

A Scotsman’s view

Former Scotland captain John Barclay was also on the panel and discussed how Ireland have moved on since the World Cup disappointment.

There were concerns as to how they would fare following the retirement of Johnny Sexton, but they have not been knocked off their stride.

“How do you break what Ireland are creating? The only way it breaks, because you see the conveyor belt coming through, it’s not going to be from a lack of talent point of view,” Barclay said.

“The only time you see it in the best teams is when something culturally shifts and players don’t put the same work in, the mentality’s different or coaches move on.

“Once you lose it, it’s very hard to get it back again. You see it with all these dynasty teams. Something happens, and it’s the end of an era.

“We thought ‘maybe this might be when Johnny Sexton leaves’, but that didn’t really turn out.”