Irish Examiner view: Troubling trends in the land of giants

World Cup was a triumph and South Africa's win confirms their stature as the world’s leading rugby nation

South Africa's Siya Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis Cup with team-mates following victory in the Rugby World Cup 2023 final at the Stade de France in Paris.

Very few people will answer in the negative when the question “are you not entertained?” is applied to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. As gladiatorial, don’t-look-away, combats go, this was a tournament full of thunderous encounters, particularly in the latter stages.

South Africa’s outstanding achievement — winning the Webb Ellis trophy four times since Francois Pienaar received it from Nelson Mandela in the Rainbow Nation triumph at Ellis Park in 1995 — confirms their stature as the world’s leading rugby nation. Whatever they put in the biltong or take off the braai has produced a generation of giants capable of winning three successive knockout games. In the most memorable quote of the competition, 18-stone prop forward Ox Nché told us: “Salads don’t win scrums. I want cake.”