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'Absolutely crazy': Baffling decision for Springboks-Ireland clash already causing headaches

By Sam Smith
Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien crashes through the South African tacklers during the two nations' most recent fixture in 2017. (Photo by Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images)

The opening weekend of the Autumn internationals will see Ireland host South Africa for the first time in five years but a contentious pre-match decision has already caused a firestorm.

Chief rugby correspondent at the Irish Independent, Ruaidhri O'Connor, has reported that the home side will wear their navy blue 'alternate' kit against the Springboks, which will cause a kit clash against the Springboks dark green.

The last time the two sides played in 2017 a similar situation played out with Ireland donning a greyish dark tone alternate jersey which was similar to the Springboks dark green kit.

The baffling decision has not gone down well with any fans who are sick of kit clashes in rugby.

Ireland's alternate kit arguably presents a worse clash than the original emerald green, which at least is a light shade compared to the Springboks darker shade.

(Photos by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images and Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Irish fans were deeply unhappy with the decision, questioning why the Springboks don't wear a white alternate or why Ireland does not have a white alternate.

One fan wrote, "It was a disaster five years ago and it will be a disaster again" while another claimed the game was already 'ruined'.

The kit clash will likely go down as another braindead decision by rugby's administrators if the teams are visually hard to separate on screen.

It remains to be seen whether Ireland can change back to the emerald green in time for the game for the sake of everyone watching.