Episode 166: Has the URC Made the Irish Teams Our Biggest Rivals? | Pat McCarry
South Africa and Ireland used to be a rare fixture. Tours separated by years, the odd November test, entire Springbok cycles without an Ireland series. That world is gone. The URC has put Irish provinces and South African franchises on the same fixture list for nine months of the year, and the two rugby cultures now read each other in real time from September to June.Pat McCarry joins Harry Jones and MW Welman on The Lekker Rugby Pod for a conversation that opens on the question this shift has forced into view. Have Ireland become South Africa's biggest rivals now? From there Pat does the thing only an Irish journalist with his depth of access can do. He takes each of the four Irish provinces in turn. Leinster first, then Ulster, Connacht and Munster. Where each side sits in the URC right now, what to watch for in the coming weeks, which players South African fans should start learning by name.
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South Africa and Ireland used to be a rare fixture. Tours separated by years, the odd November test, entire Springbok cycles without an Ireland series. That world is gone. The URC has put Irish provinces and South African franchises on the same fixture list for nine months of the year, and the two rugby cultures now read each other in real time from September to June.Pat McCarry joins Harry Jones and MW Welman on The Lekker Rugby Pod for a conversation that opens on the question this shift has forced into view. Have Ireland become South Africa's biggest rivals now? From there Pat does the thing only an Irish journalist with his depth of access can do. He takes each of the four Irish provinces in turn. Leinster first, then Ulster, Connacht and Munster. Where each side sits in the URC right now, what to watch for in the coming weeks, which players South African fans should start learning by name.
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