Ireland 13-24 South Africa: Andy Farrell’s side show spirit but cannot keep up with the best in the world

While it was certainly eye-opening to recently hear a former player from the Inner Sanctuary speak in this way about expectations around the side, the comments fueled debate about Ireland’s current place in the world game after a decade when they were consistently punching above their weight.

Entering the month ranked third in the world – Ireland has since fallen to fourth behind England – more competitive performances against those around them in the world rankings are certainly now seen as a norm rather than an aspiration.

While Ireland have not lost to a team lower than fifth in the current rankings since defeat to Wales in the 2021 Six Nations, Saturday’s loss means they have won just three of their last nine matches against England, New Zealand, South Africa and France, a run dating back to the end of the 2023 World Cup and the retirement of captain Johnny Sexton.

When we consider that the victories came against 14-man France, an English side that at the time were not at the level they are now, and thanks to a last-kick goal in South Africa, it all feeds into a worrying trend.

Without stripping the losses from a similar context, the fact that the setbacks come with an average margin of defeat of 9.5 points also seems helpful.

Nowadays, rather than being the worst ever or the best ever, Ireland feel on a level of their own, still far from established track bullies but certainly struggling when expected to make the step up.

They start the 2026 Six Nations against France in Paris and visit England in the third round. From now until those days you experience February, the direction of travel will remain the dominant theme.