Ireland are leading the way in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations.
They have three wins from three under their belt, they have been putting in some incredible performances, and are the only side left in the Championship that can still win the coveted Grand Slam.
It caps an incredible four years for the world’s number-one ranked side, with Andy Farrell taking the team from strength to strength.
Fans, pundits and journalists around the world are starting to sit up and take note, with Ireland surpassing the best the northern hemisphere has to offer and the southern hemisphere too.
Next up is a trip to BT Murrayfield to take on Scotland, a tough test in the wake of their defeat against France in Round 3.
However, Farrell’s side have everything to play for, now within touching distance of the Grand Slam with a World Cup on the horizon.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at what journalists around the world have been saying about Farrell’s Ireland.
New Zealand
Ireland have been one of the most discussed Guinness Six Nations sides in New Zealand following their historic 2-1 series against the All Blacks during the summer.
As you would expect, almost all of the comments have been positive, with some pundits and journalists going as far as to suggest France and Ireland have surpassed the southern hemisphere sides in recent years.
For some time, the southern hemisphere teams superiority over their northern hemisphere neighbours was effectively scripture.
New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and, at points, Argentina were all deemed head and shoulders above the sides competing in the Six Nations.
However, SENZ Breakfast host Tony Kemp now believes the form of Ireland and France makes The Rugby Championship look like an inferior competition compared to the Guinness Six Nations.
He said: “I got thinking about it while I was watching the game, and you’ve got Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa playing in the Rugby Championship, I think on the back of the European competition, is leading us down the drain.”
Elsewhere, the New Zealand Herald has been full of praise for Farrell’s side throughout the tournament.
The paper labelled Ireland as ‘superb’ after their win against France,
It read: “The top-ranked Irish are now firm favourites for a first Six Nations title since 2019.”
And there was more praise after Ireland’s win against Italy, with the New Zealand-based platform acknowledging that the result was impressive against a much-improved Italy side.
South Africa
London-based South African journalist Daniel Gallan echoed Kemp’s sentiments in an article for RUGBYPASS.
He added: “Ireland and France occupy the top two positions on World Rugby’s rankings. This would have blown my mind a decade ago. England have won their last two tours to Australia.
“Wales have finally triumphed in South Africa and New Zealand’s indomitable aura has all but evaporated, a fact underlined by their near miss against Scotland in the Autumn.
“The ravens have left the tower. The sun is rising in the east. Nothing makes sense anymore.”
Clearly, journalists from the southern hemisphere are well aware of the threat from the north ahead of the Rugby World Cup later this year.
The South African’s Garrin Lambley made a similar point after Ireland’s win against France.
His article pointed out Ireland’s ever-strengthening grip on the top spot in World Rugby’s international rankings.
Australia
Australian journalists have not been afraid to put this Ireland side on a pedestal either.
The West Australian labelled Ireland’s win against France in Round 2 as an ‘epic duel between rugby’s two best sides’.
It read: “A gripping first half on Saturday featuring four tries, three of them to Ireland including an amazing one-handed finish from James Lowe, gave way to a more attritional but equally absorbing second half.”
Western journalists have also not shied away from highlighting their role in Mack Hansen’s journey to the top of the international stage.
Another article in the West Australian labelled Hansen as the ‘Australian speedster’, despite the winger qualifying for Ireland through his Cork-born mother.
France
Midi Olympique made their opinion clear after Ireland’s win against France, stating that ‘The King of the world is Irish’ in one headline.
They clearly felt that Farrell’s side were deserving winners of the clash at Aviva Stadium.
The article declared: “Over the course of a magnificent match, the Irish have proven that they are today the best rugby players in the world. Courageous, Les Bleus therefore logically fell, in Dublin.
“We quickly understood, on Saturday, that we were living a great moment in rugby.”
