RWC2023

Ronan O’Gara: ‘South Africa are the team to beat at this World Cup’

The former out-half said Ireland and France also stand a chance but it’s the Springboks that are the firm favourites following demolition of All Blacks

The Irish team line up for the national anthem yesterday before the opening game against Romania

There’s not much in rugby that can surprise Ronan O’Gara but South Africa’s 35-7 demolition of the All Blacks at Twickenham last month was an exception to that rule.

“I watched that performance and it took 12 hours to sink in what had happened. They didn’t just do that to England or Wales, they did that to New Zealand,” O’Gara said on Friday.

For the La Rochelle head coach and former Irish out-half, Ireland and ...