Ireland’s triumph puts them in good company

An exceptional summer of Test rugby is over and what an advert for old fashioned three-Test tours and, in the case of Ireland, it’s worth reiterating what an historic achievement it was for the men in green.

In 28 three-Test series the Kiwis had come off worse just twice, against South Africa in 1937 and Australia in 1986. A slight addendum to that factoid is that of course the Lions’ 2-1 series win in 1971 came after a four-Test series while France were impressive 2-0 winners of their two-match series in 1994. It is a very elite company Ireland are keeping.

The Boks in 1937 were a legendary side – dubbed the ‘Invincibles’ although they didn’t actually boast a 100 per cent record – with the likes of lock and skipper Phil ‘Flip’ Nel, half-back Danie Craven and man mountain prop Boy Louw. Nor should we forget the wonderfully named tearaway flanker Ebbo Bastard who caused mayhem throughout the tour. Bastard’s name caused a few difficulties for the Aussie and New Zealand media, some of whom called him Jardine for the duration of the tour while others simply dubbed him Ebbo Smith.

An interesting chap, Bastard’s career was cut short by WW2 where he fought with distinction in the Western Desert campaign. On his return he ran off with the wife of a farming neighbour, subsequently married her, and a few years later was shot dead in broad daylight by her former husband.

Anyway, back to the 1937 tour. South Africa embarked on a proper old style tour with 11 games first up in Australia and after a wake up call when New South Wales defeated the Boks recorded an impressive Test double over Australia.

South Africa arrived in New Zealand in good fettle but as ever there were a few tensions simmering away. The skipper, who had toured New Zealand with the 1928 Boks, was no spring chicken and painfully slow around the park and under pressure to stand down for the first Test in Wellington where the ABs were expected to provide much more dynamic opposition.

Nel sacrificed himself and Craven skippered the side from fly-half but they slipped to a 13-7 defeat which wasn’t as close as it seems. Much debate ensued. Nel was slow as a tortoise but he was still as tough as old boots and a force to reckoned with in the tight – he had shown that in the two notably dirty Tests against the Wallabies – and South Africa played better when he was at the helm.

So Nel was restored, Craven moved back to his best position at scrum-half and the huge Boks pack vowed to get physical with the All Blacks. On the eve of the second Test in Christchurch they received a three-word telegram from former Boks great Paul Roos, the 1906 skipper, in South Africa. “Scrum, scrum scrum.”

That’s exactly what SA did en route to a 13-7 win with a 55m penalty from Gerrie Brand garnishing victory which heralded the third Test in Dunedin and an impressive five tries to nil demolition job though with a try worth just three points the 17-6 scoreline again suggests a competitive game. An off colour Brand landed just one conversion but to this day the ABs have never lost the try count in any game by 5-0.

As for the Aussies in 1986, their 14-match tour was played out against an interesting backdrop. Just a few months earlier the New Zealand Cavaliers had been touring South Africa and most of the more established players were on the naughty step serving a three-Test ban. That in turn saw New Zealand blood a new generation and although some were destined to become greats of the game, it left them pretty vulnerable against one of the best-ever Aussie teams.

The first two Tests were tight, Australia winning 13-12 in Wellington, New Zealand easing home by the same scoreline in Dunedin. Which set up the decider in Eden Park and a cracking 17-6 win for the Aussies.

So that is the company Ireland are keeping and the magnitude of their triumph will only grow with the decades.