Robbie Fleck firmly asserts that Andy Farrell is not engaging in mind games by declaring that the Springboks are undeniably the world's best team. A heated debate unfolded during the Six Nations about the true number one side, given Ireland's dominance in their initial three matches. No team came within 20 points of Farrell's squad during the first three rounds until they narrowly lost 23-22 to England at Twickenham. This loss dashed their hopes of a Grand Slam. Nonetheless, they rebounded to secure the championship with a 17-13 victory over Scotland.

Ireland's upcoming challenge will be a thrilling two-Test series in South Africa against the world champion Boks in July. "All we seek is a chance to face off against the best, and South Africa are without a doubt the best," Farrell stated after their Six Nations win. "We have won a game there before, so playing two games to test ourselves will be beneficial for our growth moving forward." In the article "State of the Nation: Ireland banish World Cup ghosts but will rue ‘missed opportunities’ in Six Nations title defence," Farrell could have been trying to elevate the Springboks to alleviate the pressure on his team, but Fleck believed he was simply being "brutally honest.

" "I not only admire Ireland's style of play, but I also admire Farrell. He is straightforward, and what you see is what you get," Fleck shared on the Boks Office podcast. When the podcast host, Hanyani Shimange, questioned whether Ireland's head coach was employing gamesmanship, Fleck remained steadfast in his view. "I think he is completely honest. He genuinely believes South Africa is superior.

He is stating: 'That's the target we want to surpass, beating them on their home ground,'" Fleck explained. "He is embracing this challenge and announcing: 'I am ready to face the Springboks head-on without any hidden agendas.' I have met him a couple of times, and he always comes across as sincere and skilled in his role. He thrives on real challenges, and he is confronting this one head-on."