Scrum woes take from victory joy for Feek and Ross

There cannot have been too many instances of a side beating South Africa and having mixed feelings about the experience, but Ireland’s scrummaging think tank remain in two minds about the 29-15 victory.

Both scrum coach Greg Feek and tighthead prop Mike Ross yesterday used the word “bittersweet” to describe their response to delivering a hard-fought win against the number two Test side in the world at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday and their emotions are rooted in a disappointing day against a mighty Springboks pack.

“Last week’s victory, there is a lot of euphoria about it but there was a real bittersweet feeling in the changing-room, particularly from numbers one to eight and the guys that replaced them,” Feek said.