Could easily have been avoided.
If you think about it, Ireland has a jersey clash with only one team in world rugby, South Africa – So, then it shouldn’t be the hardest thing in the world to ensure that the kits are different when these sides meet.
The last time the sides came head to head, in June 2016, in Port Elizabeth, this clash was avoided by South Africa wearing a white strip and Ireland wearing their traditional green.
Joe Schmidt’s Ireland opened their November series with Saturday’s big test against the Springboks, and straight from the kick-off, the dark green of the South Africa strip, and the grey of Ireland was drawing the ire of spectators and onlookers.
As pointed out by Andy McGeady, perhaps the best way to try and make the game an easier watch is to look at the shorts of both teams. South Africa are wearing white shorts and Ireland grey ones.
I'm watching a HD feed and in open play the only way I can tell what team a player is on is whether the shorts are dark or white.
Come on, folks. This is not hard.#IREvRSA
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) November 11, 2017
An early snap of Ireland centre Jacob Stockdale and South Africa’s Damian de Allende shows just how similar the strips were.
It didn’t seem to cause Ireland too many problems, with Jonny Sexton converting three penalties, and Andrew Conway running over a fine try down the right wing.
Needless to say, it caused some controversy on Twitter.
Ireland have a jersey clash with just one country, South Africa, and someone in Canterbury thought it was bright to have a grey changed strip for them #P45
— Shane Brophy (@BrophShane) November 11, 2017
Surely the Irish green jersey would be less of a clash than what they're wearing? #IrevSA
— Richie Heneghan (@RichieHeneghan) November 11, 2017
Shocking jersey color choice by Ireland, would be less of a clash in the home shirt. Madness. #IREvRSA
— John Ivory (@JohnIvory12) November 11, 2017
Call me old fashioned but that's a jersey colour clash….#IREvRSA pic.twitter.com/vPAPtnuLab
— Mick O'Keeffe (@okmick) November 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/gjt90/status/929402135720194053
The jersey clash is a joke or else i'm going blind. #IREvRSA
— brendan healy (@4aldo4) November 11, 2017
You can actually give the jersey clash the assist for that try. Conway even looked like he thought Sexton might tackle him #IREvRSA
— Owen Webb O Rourke (@OwenWebbORourke) November 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/Jamspud/status/929408565034434560
Dear @canterburyNZ and @IrishRugby…
This is not a good look for you guys.
Would a change at HT be on the cards? Please? https://t.co/B5oMYnKVu0
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) November 11, 2017
