South Africa skipper Siya Kolisi has labelled Ireland's Grand Slam triumph as "special" ahead of the World Cup pool meeting of the sides in Paris on September 23.
Kolisi and the Springboks were on the wrong end of a beating by Ireland in the 2022 Autumn series and the experienced flanker believes Andy Farrell's side deserve their world number one ranking.
“It was honestly special," said Kilosi of the championship clean sweep. "They played really well. For a couple of years in a row now, they have been playing really well.
READ MORE: Siya Kolisi praises Munster ahead of Champions Cup showdown for their backing of RG Snyman
“They are a tough team, an amazing team. You can see they are a tight group. I know some of the guys in the group and I'm really happy for them.
“When another team does well, you shouldn’t feel bad. The opposition doing well can make you want to be better and play at that kind of level.
“They really deserved it. They played well in the whole Six Nations and they faced a couple of challenges that they had to fix on the day. Getting the number seven (Josh van der Flier) to throw into the lineout (against Scotland).
“They didn’t lose a step in that, so they really did well. They deserve to be the number one, so everybody is chasing them going forward.”
Meanwhile, Kolisi says to hell with the begrudgers as the Sharks look to take down Munster at Kings Park on Saturday.
He is grateful that South African clubs have the opportunity to grow their games in the Champions Cup as of this season, and in the URC for the past season and a half.
That's especially the case with a World Cup happening in France and a big trophy to defend.
"We won't get shocked by the type of rugby, we'll be used to the conditions," Kolisi predicted.
Three of the four South African franchises are in the top five in the URC - the Sharks are currently fifth - and, after taking down Bordeaux in a big pool game, Solisi is ambitious for his Durban-based club to go deeper into this competition.
Unless Munster are really on their game, that will spell bad news after their long haul trip.
Kolisi said: "The history of it is so huge and I understand there are one or two people who think it’s just weird that it’s called the European Cup and there’s South African teams coming in but we really don’t care about that.
“We want to come in and show who we are and bring who we are as a South African team that can bring value and a different way of playing the game.
"We’ve really enjoyed it as a group and we’re fortunate to have a couple of coaches who have been part of the European Cup and have told us how big it is, how in Europe it’s such a huge thing that guys are totally into it.
“They play in jerseys that are completely different, the whole kit, to get a different mindset and the music itself is really special. For us we’d look at it like it’s the Champions League in soccer - so it’s really an amazing tournament and we’re so grateful to be part of it.”
Kolisi claimed Sharks' tactical plan this week won't be profoundly influenced by Munster's defeat to Glasgow last weekend, when the Reds were shocked to go in at the break with a 28-0 deficit.
“That’s for us to know," smiled the 31-year-old, who pointed out his own team didn't produce the goods in the URC last weekend, either, in a 32-20 defeat at Scarlets.
"I’m not going to reveal too much but I’ll reference where I think they’re very strong.
"Like all other teams who hold onto the ball for a very long time, very patient and disciplined in what they do and I honestly think we can’t look at last weekend because we also lost so it doesn’t define who we are.
“This is a different competition, it’s a play-off game and we don’t know what will happen next. Because if I’m going to look at that game, they’re going to look at our previous game, too."
Kolisi added that the red army can expect a Sharkfest party around the game.
"It will be a great atmosphere, a lot of people will come out here," he said. "We’ve a Sharkfest happening with a lot of activities, and a concert, a lot of families and my son is actually bringing 60 of his friends and parents to the game.
“That’s what I love about the European Cup, it’s just a different environment to anything else and obviously the heat of Durban, at that time of day."
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