Ireland’s attack endured a transition period in 2024, with Andrew Goodman taking over from Mike Catt following the two Tests against the Springboks in South Africa.

It came under scrutiny during the Autumn Nations Series, where Andy Farrell’s charges fell to a defeat at the hands of the All Blacks before pipping Australia and Argentina and hammered Fiji. The Wallabies defended particularly well against Ireland despite Farrell’s men scoring three tries while they managed just one against New Zealand.

Stopping great teams

Williams has moved to debunk the idea that Ireland’s attack is now ineffective and that teams know how to stop it.

“To a point the ‘they have figured us out’ theorists are right. Every team has every other team figured out. What the conspiracy theorists are missing is that figuring out what other teams are doing is the easy part,” he wrote in his Irish Times column.

“Stopping great teams from playing the way we know they can play is exceptionally hard.”

The controversial pundit adds that Ireland’s emphasis on winning the gain-line battle through multiple interplays between backs and forwards, with the ball carrier empowered to make decisions, is designed to exploit the Springboks‘ rush defence that has won back-to-back World Cups.

The mastermind behind the defence, Jacques Nienaber, is now employed by Leinster with the South African tasked with ending the province’s trophy drought.

Ireland’s attack v Springboks’ defence

Williams further explains that the late decision-making from the Irish attack puts greater pressure on the defenders and with the Bok defence shooting out with their wingers and outside centres to shut down attacking plays, that is beneficial for Ireland’s system.

“Ireland have an astonishing four wins from five matches against the world champion Springboks. A major factor in this domination is that, by its very nature, the South African rushing defensive system leaves holes because the sprinting defenders disconnect from each other,” he explained.

“Ireland’s gain-line theory, short passing, attacking system is perfectly designed to exploit these micro holes. This has the Springboks supporters saying, ‘Those dastardly smart Irish have figured us out’.

“Under Joe Schmidt, last November the Wallabies slowed their defensive line speed and stayed connected, leaving very few gaps, which made Ireland’s short-passing game far more difficult to execute.

“So the Springboks’ defence will have to evolve in a similar manner to counter Ireland’s attacking game just as Ireland’s attacking game must evolve under Jack Crowley or Sam Prendergast to counter more connected defensive systems.”

Williams added further praise on Ireland’s attacking prowess stating that it is “among the world’s best”.