Taoiseach in buoyant mood as Ireland joins G20 top table

Micheál Martin emphasised strong links between South Africa and Ireland — and said he hoped Cyril Ramaphosa would roll out TV screens to watch the Ireland vs Springboks rugby match 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking during the Global Fund's eighth replenishment summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, ahead of the G20 summit. Picture: Leon Neal/PA

As South Africans head to Dublin this weekend, the Irish G20 delegation was rolling into Johannesburg to take a seat at the top table for the very first time.

The Aviva Stadium may be 13,500 miles away, but Andy Farrell’s team’s match against the World Cup-winning Springboks was not far from anybody’s minds.