One day on, Ireland rugby fans are still on cloud nine as a result of the team's big win over South Africa in the Rugby World Cup last night.
While it was not exactly a high-scoring affair, it was an incredible match to watch. Both teams brought a remarkable amount of intensity to the fixture, coming up with plenty of big hits and stern defensive efforts. There was also quite a few mistakes on either side, something that only added to the drama in Paris.
Andy Farrell will be absolutely delighted with the resilience his side showed in coming out on top. He will also know that this guarantees nothing later in the tournament, but it should give him confidence that they will be able to perform when it comes to knockout rugby.
Jerry Flannery delighted win one aspect of Ireland win over South Africa
Every Ireland fan would have been hoping to see the team play some free-flowing rugby against South Africa, and while this was not the case, the way in which they did earn the victory was perhaps even more pleasing.
Speaking on RTÉ this afternoon, Jerry Flannery said that the way Ireland won the game despite not being at their best was perhaps the most encouraging aspect of their triumph at the Stade de France.
Ireland's stats didn't make for pretty viewing on Saturday night, which made victory over World Cup holders South Africa all the more impressive. pic.twitter.com/OLcSIpKFBz
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) September 24, 2023
If you look at the stats, Ireland shouldn't have won that game.
They won 67 per cent of their line-outs, they aim for 90 per cent. They won 83 per cent of their scrums, that should normally be 100 per cent.
On the gain line, this is a really telling stat, they only won the gain line 36 per cent of the time. The gain line means every time you carry the ball, do you get over the advantage line and make metres? That stat tells us that in two out of every three carries, Ireland got hit backwards, yet they found a way to win the game.
They were so resilient, they believed in themselves so much that they found a way to win. Johnny Sexton said after the game that it was a proper test match, it comes down to the bounce of a ball.
Going by those stats, Ireland shouldn't have won but they did. It was brilliant.
Ireland will be hoping to carry the momentum gained from this win into the fixture against Scotland in a couple of weeks, where a victory would set up a Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.
The team faced the same opposition at that stage four years ago, but you certainly get the sense that they would be far better prepared for the challenge on this occasion.
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