Irish nous or Bok brawn? Time to meet The Green Gauge

Feel like something new? Allow us to introduce you to The Green Gauge. The team here at SuperSport has decided to introduce this visual feature to reflect all progress made in the intense rivalry between Irish and South African rugby.

This year the two national sides will meet in a must-win clash at the Rugby World Cup, and every club match played between representatives of the two nations from now on will move the Green Gauge's itchy needle.

Only the most biased rugby fan will not be keen to tell you that as far as all things oval go, South Africa and Ireland are similarly competitive at elite level.

On the one hand, we have the Irish team - ranked number one in the world, with an experienced and tactically astute squad. They are the current Six Nations champions, having beaten England at Twickenham just this weekend to secure not only the title but the Grand Slam.

Ireland has never won a World Cup, but with the strength of their current set-up, they've never had a better shot at the title than this year.

On the other hand, we have the Springboks. They are the current World Champions and have won the hallowed Webb Ellis Cup three times.

They are well known for their physicality and size on the field, but what really makes them tick is the realisation that they are representing every person living in a country that faces all-too-real challenges like poverty, hunger and violent crime daily. They are an unlikely hope of the hopeless.

The Springboks are willing to go to depths no-one else is capable of to ensure they remain just that.

EUROPEAN CONQUERORS

At club level, Irish and South African sides are both busy flexing biceps in the United Rugby Championship.

Last season, Leinster looked like sure winners before a shock semifinal loss against the Bulls at home. That's an impressive feat, except that these same Bulls then lost the final to the Stormers the very next weekend.

This year, Leinster and the other Irish clubs are in red-hot form once again, not only in the URC but also in the Champions Cup. But can the South African clubs stop them again? And how will this influence the national teams' World Cup chances?

Over the coming weeks, we'll be exploring these questions and more, as the Green Gauge needle moves based on the performances of Irish and South African club sides.

Leinster's dominance in recent years has been a testament to their talent and skill on the field. They have some of the best players in the world, and their tactical awareness is second to none.

But the South African sides have shown that they are not to be underestimated. Their aggression and intensity in physical confrontations can be a challenge for any team to overcome, and they have some astonishingly gifted ballers of their own. And in the case of the Stormers they seem to have kickstarted an impressive conveyor belt that drops off excellent young talent regularly.

MOVING THE NEEDLE

Now before we start watching the Green Gauge graphics move back and forth, let's agree that both sides are closely matched in terms of their overall ability. The needle, therefore, points straight to the middle this week.

It will be fascinating to see how the club performances influence the national teams' World Cup chances. Will Leinster's dominance translate into success for Ireland? Or will the South African sides find a way to stop them, giving the Springboks an edge going into the World Cup's pool of death?

Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the Green Gauge team will be watching dial in hand.