While summer tours to the southern hemisphere are always big occasions, it's fair to say that next month's rugby games between South Africa and Ireland is one of the more hotly anticipated clashes in recent years.
Those two teams have probably been the most consistent in world rugby over the last couple of years. Ireland have certainly been the best team and Europe, and while The Springboks can have some down periods, their status as back-to-back World Cup winners makes them the team to beat.
Of course, there is a bit of recent history between these two teams. The South Africans certainly seem to have a bit of animosity towards Irish rugby in general, with their last victory over Ireland coming all the way back in 2016.
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Rugby: Stander Sums Up Difference Between Ireland & South Africa Fans
South Africa and Ireland may be the two best teams in the world, the rugby ecosystem in each nation is quite different.
CJ Stander is as well positioned to comment on those differences as anyone, having come through the South African system before joining Munster and becoming an Ireland international. He has returned to his country of birth since retirement.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Stander summed up how rugby takes hold of the public in South Africa in a way that it does not quite manage in this country.
In Ireland everyone talking about rugby tends to be ‘in’ Irish rugby but, literally here right now, everywhere I go, I can hear people talking about it, the kids, the adults, the taximan, the busman, the waiter, the chef, everyone is excited.
I suppose when the top teams play against each other, people who are interested in it, you can feel it for sure. Everyone here is getting ready.
South Africa are certainly one of the most well supported teams in the sport, with rugby permeating all levels of their society. That is something that has not traditionally been the case in Ireland, although that dynamic is slowly changing.
With the two sides set to play a couple of huge fixtures over the coming weeks, you get the sense that the series will dominate the headlines in both countries.
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