Springboks legend Joel Stransky says Ireland will be ‘judged’ in July series :

Rugby World Cup winner Joel Stransky has called for Ireland’s coronation as the new kings of rugby to be delayed until they face South Africa in July.

Welsh greats Jonathan Davies and Sam Warburton hailed Andy Farrell’s men as the best in the business either side of victory over Wales last time out.

With Ireland bound for Twickenham next week to face Steve Borthwick’s misfiring side, bookies have them heavy odds-on favourites to land a fourth Grand Slam in 15 years.

Not yet top dogs

Springbok legend Stransky is fulsome in his praise for the Irish, whose game he describes as “probably the most beautiful in the world to watch at the moment”.

It is the notion Ireland are now rugby’s top dogs that he is not ready to accept.

“There’s no doubt they’re a great side and are still growing,” said the man whose golden boot settled the 1995 World Cup final. “They are the real deal, I love watching them.

“Their line-up is formidable, they play fast, they use the width of the field and every player is a skilful ball handler, each capable of cleaning out and rucking, carrying and running into space, offloading out the tackle and making great decisions.

“It’s quite unique. I don’t think any other team in the world plays quite like it and, rightly, they’re one of the top two teams in the game.

“But I think we will judge them when they come to South Africa.”

Stransky’s reservation is based partly on the patchy overall quality of this year’s Six Nations tournament.

“Down here we look at it at the moment and see England evolving, still trying to work out where they are going,” he said.

“Scotland are playing above their weight in many ways, but France without Dupont are not the French team they were in the build up to the World Cup.

“So we see Ireland and we’re not sure whether they’ve stepped up or everyone else has just come back a yard.”

Ireland beat the Boks at the World Cup and have won three in a row against the Rainbow Nation, five of the last seven, eight of 12 dating back to 2009.

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But they have still to reach a first World Cup semi-final whereas South Africa are back-to-back champions.

Stransky added: “There’s definitely some ambiguity around who the best team in the world is.

“To be the best you’ve got to be the best consistently – and Ireland have probably been that.

“But to win the World Cup you have to be great in the great moments, when it really counts, and that’s what we did.”

This is as undeniable as the fact the Test encounters between the countries, in Pretoria and Durban on the first two Saturdays of July, will be must-see.

Stransky likens the anticipation around South Africa to a once-in-12-years British and Irish Lions visit.

He said: “That Ireland tour is a massive milestone for Rassie Erasmus, for Siya…