TWO IRISH LOSSES vs South Africa would not be a cause of concern, according to Bernard Jackman on Monday’s subscriber exclusive Rugby Weekly Extra podcast.
“I wouldn’t even be worried if we didn’t win a test. If we were really competitive in both games, I think that would be a decent tour given where we’re coming from.
“I think South Africa have so much to celebrate and feel good about with that partisan crowd. And the altitude, that definitely is an advantage for the Boks, even if it didn’t affect Glasgow or Benetton or Munster.
“I think in the first test it’ll be 30-15 to South Africa maybe. I think it will be better in the second test,” Jackman predicted.
While Jackman’s view might appear pessimistic on the surface, the former Irish hooker did offer a somewhat more optimistic view should Andy Farrell’s men rediscover some of their 2023 form:
“I would love a shared series. If Ireland can get back to where they can play, to the level that they were playing to at the World Cup, I think we can go toe to toe with them.
“The concern I have is just the way that we’ve looked, the way our players have looked individually, in both URC semi-finals, in particular. That puts a bit of fear into me.”
And one area in which the Bulls comprehensively outplayed Leinster — the scrum — is the aspect of Saturday’s game about which Jackman remains most concerned.
“You saw the Bulls absolutely destroy what will be four fifths of this Ireland pack, if Rassie [Erasmus’ prediction] is right.
“The thing is, though: the Bulls props are better scrummagers than the Boks props. It was scary from an Irish point of view how Furlong, Porter and Sheehan really struggled with that size and power.”
Jackman believes that Irish scrum coach John Fogarty will be integral to Ireland’s chances of repeating the famous victory enjoyed by Ireland against South Africa in THAT World Cup pool stage game last year.
“It’s a big job for John Fogarty. I think Fogarty has a different setup with Ireland compared to Leinster: they scrummage a lot straighter, which leaves us less open to that South African size and power. With Leinster the props generally do a lot more of what they want, individually.
“It’s grand when you’re bigger and stronger than the opposition, but when you come up against a team that are bigger and stronger than you, it can leave you very exposed.
“The challenge for Fogarty is to get them back on the same page, in a short period of time and obviously to deal with that the Boks’ size and power.
“It’s a huge test for him but they did really well in Paris at scrum time, except against New Zealand and that was a big part of the loss: scrum time.
“If we get taken apart at the scrum, then goodnight,” Jackman concluded.
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The fact remains that many employers who actually employ GAA players do so in order to keep those people in the county, and as such are happy to facilitate their football / hurling commitments. The goodwill in the community from having Michael Murphy or Carl Lacey on your staff must be huge.
Three times. It’s like “abrahmovich has entered gaa”
Great for them. The players in the GAA put in so much and get so little out of it (financially) and each and every one of them deserve whatever little perks they get. It of course makes a complete hypocrite of Jim McG but sure what’s new, it was all about mind games and you can’t argue with the results.
They must be seriously looked after if they can afford to take that length of time off work, twice! Is it an unfair advantage? It probably is I’d say.
Do you think the Kerry lads will be working double shifts or something? There’s plenty of money behind them aswell, they could do the same if they wanted.
Split Donegal in two
The Kerry group have been great for Kerry football, finding employment for many of their players. Also they’ve dished out a million for a sports centre. Also their annual sponsorship is one of the best in the country. And good luck to them.
Moan moan moan! Good on them. I’d give anything to be involved in a set up like that. Players deserve every bit of it. Look, there is Dublin bias out there which is unfair. However that argument is for another day. It’s about Kerry and Donegal now. Hopefully it lives up to the hurling!!!
Let’s see the training camp in Portugal . The four nights in Carton House . A Republic of Ireland international training their goalkeepers , I am sure their is a boxing coach involved as well after seeing the punch Murphy threw in the semi final. Three of their players flown by helicopter from Dublin to Donegal for a training session . Plus they have a centre of excellence .Not bad at all for a county who’s manager described Dublin as the Chelsea of Gaelic Football .
M Donnelly, Kepak, Glanbia, Tegral etc have been providing all of the above for teams since the early 90s, what’s your point.
What does a lift in a helicopter have to do with anything? Did you never pick up someone in your car on the way to training?
That a helicopter doesn’t pick diarmuid Connolly up in Marino & bring him to Parnell doesn’t mean dublin have less money. It’s because there’s no need for it when none of the Dublin players live an 8 hour round trip from training.
I actually was in Johnstown house last Summer where the Donegal team had done 4/5 weekends consecutively training there in weekend camp Pre-championship. A person connected to the team behind the team told me that this was done to cut down on players driving & was actually slightly cheaper than collective training 3 nights a week with driving expenses etc due to the distances players were travelling. It must be remembered also that Donegal is a massive county of huge inlets and headlands which has would mean huge mileage even for homebased players.
Have you any idea how far it is from Malin, Gaoth Dobhair or Ardara to Castlefinn round trip? Look at a map & see how others live.
Wonder how much the 5 days cost the county board ??? Jim had the cheek to say the dubs have more money ha he’s some man ! Gonna be an epic final can’t wait for it
20,000 it cost source : the above article
It really only cost them 3 grand. They put that on Donegal at 7-1 last Saturday.
haha Nice one, Peter!
I hope Johnstown House & Lough Erne are 2 of their loyal sponsors or that they give back to loyal Donegal hotels, sponsors & employers in other ways. I’m sure they do.
Either way I hope they win the final & if they don’t Kerry would be fine champions.
well they constantly go on about Tir Chonaill, Fermanagh was in this medieval kingdom as well.
Getting a bit touchy are we . I just made a point that Mcguinness was crying poverty about Dublins finances comparing them with a professional soccer team which itself was a insult to the Dublin players . It turns out then that Donegal are not too bad at splashing the cash themselves
Well at least I answered some of your ‘points’. Not think the whole of your post stinks of touchy an sore? I’m not from Donegal but can relate to it as a rural county. What about your childish whinge re an imaginary boxing coach when you’re the ones with a fulltime in your backroom staff? Or Shay Given at home in his native county on holiday attending one training session? 1 helicopter ride for 3 players 3 weeks before an All-Ireland?
Bar a Ballymun in the Sun training camp and a few hotel camps your points are pi€s poor and very sore and touchy.
Granted I would have agreed with McGuinness’ point if he had made them at a different time but bad form in the run up to a semi-final.
He didn’t cry poverty. He said fair play to Dublin – they have their house in order. Up to other counties to catch up with the likes of Dublin and Kerry. He also has whipped Donegal into shape – the club v county was a big problem for the county team and he appears to have sorted that.
Well Erned.
Donegal deserved their win over Dublin no arguments there .So no one been sore or touchy there as for all the other points I made about training camps or helicopter journeys no problem with that either . Why compare a amateur team to a professional team .
Fermanagh helping out Donegal?
Well I suppose it is Tir Chonaill people sticking togather. Most don’t realise that Fermanagh, North Leitrim and parts of Tyrone and Derry were also in this kingdom.