Episode 2985: Spain Germany Final, Why Do South Africa Hate Ireland, Osborne Identity

Ken is in Mannheim, on his way to Stuttgart for Spain Germany, for what will look and feel like a final. We chat through the other QFs where magical-thinking England face the bickerin’ Swiss and Ken gives us his predictions.

The Ireland tour of SA gets underway this Saturday in Pretoria and Andy Farrell has shoved Rassie’s Ireland team selection back down his throat by picking centre/winger Jamie Osborne at fullback, where he hasn’t played since Nov 2022.

©INPHO/James Crombie

We chat to Ruaidhri O’Connor who is in South Africa, and Shane Horgan, about the team selection, Ireland’s waning form at international and provincial level, the one-way media war, Rassie the showman, and why is it that South African players seem to hate us so much.

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Take your seats and get the popcorn ready! ?

Press play on Episode 1: Rassie on Irish fans.#ForeverGreenForeverGold #Springboks pic.twitter.com/xyAk1bDPJW

— Springboks (@Springboks) July 4, 2024

Plus there’s bad predictions, vodka clothes and a tribute to the late great Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.

©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

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These boys ain’t no Alickadoo’s.

Semi-Final preview pod with Jamie Wall out now. https://t.co/TX4iwLNrCy pic.twitter.com/CJsK8hlfsB

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) July 3, 2024