If there’s no Ireland to shout for then most Irish fans tend to throw their backing behind whoever’s playing England.
That’s just the way it is and on Saturday morning, in the Rugby World Cup final, that team was South Africa.
Ahead of kick-off, we had Irish supporters laying claim to red-headed South African prop Steven Kitshoff and after the final, which finished 32-12 in favour of the Southern Hemisphere side, social media in Ireland was dripping with delight.
Late tries from Makazole Mapimpi and Chelsin Kolbe ensured the win for South Africa and cemented that team’s reputation for coming on strong in the final quarter of games throughout the tournament.
England were restricted to 12 points, all from the boot of Owen Farrell, as South Africa denied Eddie Jones’ side any sniff of a try throughout the 80 minutes.
"Kolbe now.
"OHHHHH CHESLIN KOLBE!"
South Africa try! And that's that!
🏴 12 – 32 🇿🇦#ENGvRSA#RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/dOuhDfjlgO
— eir Sport (@eirSport) November 2, 2019
Ireland came nowhere near to a place in the final, having been steamrolled by New Zealand in the quarter-final two weeks ago.
But in what came as something of a consolation prize for many Irish fans watching from home, perennial rivals England failed to back up their pre-match status as bookmakers’ favourites.
Regardless of the sport, it seems that Irish fans enjoy little more than watching England come up short.
https://twitter.com/Dr_RonanCall/status/1190579538666938368
https://twitter.com/Stephan76458486/status/1190581739346939904
https://twitter.com/DavesAdvocate/status/1190584086806568961
England losing a world cup final. Just another one of those things you absolutely love to see 😂 pic.twitter.com/DP0uyxxvZn
— Paddy Sloan (@paddysloan96) November 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/hazelnolan/status/1190584589015642112
https://twitter.com/Mallorie_Ronan/status/1190585703782064128
https://twitter.com/Badalucco84/status/1190585484965232640
Irish And French People when England gets wrecked pic.twitter.com/L41Pp9HRk7
— No Saoek, No Party (@ASAP_Pipa) November 2, 2019
South Africa score 32 points…one for every county in Ireland.
— Harry G.#FBPE #RESIST #RESISTANCE (@32countydriver) November 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/stucla/status/1190585917095981056
This has aged well. https://t.co/KRbhL9sZFK
— Damian Keane (@VedderHead86) November 2, 2019
Us Irish after England lose:#ENGvRSA #RugbyWorldCup #RugbyWorldCupfinal #SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/aSu1hd5Gil
— Stephen Roche (@MegaStevieR) November 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/IrishDerekMcC/status/1190587321856528384
