The July internationals produced some unforgettable moments for the rugby romantics. Wayne Pivac’s side beat the Boks in the second Test of the three-game series to become the first Welsh side to win on South African soil.
A week later, Ireland went one better to complete a monumental series victory in New Zealand. These results will echo across the ages.
History will remember these Welsh and Irish players for their groundbreaking achievements. In the context of the 2022 season, the results in the July internationals have challenged widely held perceptions about the Test rugby pecking order.
France and Ireland are the best teams on the planet. It’s no longer a northern hemisphere hypothesis, but a universal fact. The Boks and England are gathering momentum, though, and bear watching in the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup.