Irish star admits South Africa's 'Zombie' anthem has hit a nerve
Stuart McCloskey believes South Africa’s embrace of the song Zombie has become another layer in the increasingly edgy rivalry between Ireland and the Springboks and admits it has started to grate on Irish supporters.
What began as a rugby rivalry built on mutual respect has evolved into something far more intense over the past few years, fuelled by bruising clashes between the world’s top-ranked sides and the growing crossover created by the United Rugby Championship.
Since South Africa joined the URC, Irish and South African teams have repeatedly collided in high-stakes matches, including two finals won by Irish opposition. Combined with the fierce Test battles between the nations, tensions have steadily grown both on and off the field.
Speaking on the For the Love of Rugby podcast, McCloskey suggested the rivalry has taken on a tougher edge, with South African fans fully leaning into the antagonism, particularly through their adoption of “Zombie,” the iconic Cranberries anthem that became synonymous with Ireland’s run at the 2023 World Cup.
The song, belted out by Irish fans during the tournament in France, was later turned back on them by Springbok supporters after South Africa lifted the Webb Ellis Cup and again during clashes between Irish and South African URC sides.
McCloskey admitted that while the rivalry remains largely respectful, the use of “Zombie” by South African supporters has become a source of irritation.
“It’s a weird one,” he said. “I think with them being in the URC now, you see a lot more of the South Africans and there probably is a lot more beef and grittiness there.”
The Ulster midfielder said the relationship between the fanbases still stops short of outright hostility, but acknowledged there is now genuine tension between the two rugby nations.
“It seems like South Africans just hate the Irish,” McCloskey joked. “I don’t know if we hate them as much, but I think it’s pretty cordial. There’s good crack between the fans. We’ve not got to fighting them yet.”
He believes Ireland’s victory over South Africa during the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool stages — followed by the Springboks going on to win the tournament — only intensified matters.
“We were the top two teams in the world coming into that World Cup,” he said. “We beat them in the group stages, but they went on and won it, and that probably stoked the rivalry even more.”
But it was the “Zombie” takeover that clearly struck a nerve.
“It’s not really craic either,” McCloskey said. “Come on, that’s your own craic. In general, not great craic.”
For Irish supporters, the song has long carried emotional and cultural significance beyond rugby. For South African fans, however, it has become another way of embracing the psychological battle that now surrounds one of world rugby’s fiercest modern rivalries.
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