Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy make mouth-watering prediction for Rugby World Cup final as pair prepare for 2023 Ryder Cup

IRISH golf stars Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy have made their predictions for the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.

The PGA Tour pair were pitch side for Ireland's stunning win over the Springboks on Saturday in Paris.

Andy Farrell’s men won 13-8 in an arm wrestle of a game that could well prove to be a dress rehearsal for the final. 

Both Lowry and McIlroy are preparing for the 2023 Ryder Cup that gets underway on Friday from Marco Simone in Rome.

Lowry has openly predicted that he reckons Ireland will win the famous Webb Ellis trophy at the end of the month, and nothing changed as he stuck with his prediction.

Speaking ahead of the game with Jim Hamilton from RugbyPass, Lowry said: "I'm not gonna change my mind now, these lads look pretty big.

"Look, Ireland are the best team in the world on paper. If they can set down a marker it's huge for them.

"In Ireland we all want them to win; we all want them to go the whole way. Tonight is huge.

Four-time major winner McIlroy hailed the Irish fans as he reckons Ireland can also go the distance in France, he added: "Shane will same the same, no matter where we are, be it in Asia - Europe of America or wherever it is - the support we get from the Irish fans is incredible

"Hopefully that support can carry them [Ireland] all the way in this tournament.

"I think this team has the chance to do something that will be remembered forever - Ireland might never have a chance to win a World Cup like this again.

"This team has that chance, it's very exciting for the whole country.

"You know - have a chance to do something that no other Irish team has done before."

McIlroy paid a huge compliment to the Offaly ace as he said Ireland winning the World Cup would be the biggest achievement since Lowry won the Claret Jug in 2019 at Royal Portrush.

The world number two said reckons Andy Farrell's side have a massive chance to reach the final: "I don't think there would be anything like it in the history of Ireland.

"We're counting or chickens before they hatch, a little bit but if they were to get there... it would be a monumental achievement.

"Chances like this don't come around very often, they need to try to make the most of it."

Ireland are likely to play New Zealand in the quarter-final with hopes high of getting past the might All-Blacks.

It would be the first time ever an Ireland team would get past the last-8 at the World Cup.

Meanwhile, the Ryder Cup gets underway on Friday with both Lowry and McIlroy on Team Europe.

It's sure to be a closer than expected battle as Team Europe players have come into form during the last number events.

All 12 members of Team Europe made the cut at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth two weeks ago.

Seven finished in the top 10, with Tyrrell Hatton a runner-up, Jon Rahm fourth, Viktor Hovland fifth and Tommy Fleetwood sixth.

Prior to the 2023 season the European team were heavy underdogs but that has changed after some outstanding play during the PGA Tour and DP World Tour seasons'.

Zach Johnson's team will be aiming to become the first American side to claim the famous trophy on European soil for the first time since 1993 at the Belfry.