The Springboks begin their gruelling end of year tour against World No 1-ranked Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Ireland 53/100 | Draw 20/1 | South Africa 33/20
Handicap
Ireland (-3.5) 9/10 | SA (+3.5) 9/10
Jacques Nienaber’s men head into their November schedule ranked third after disappointingly missing out on the Rugby Championship title to New Zealand. Still, they did manage to end the tournament with three straight victories over Australia and Argentina (twice) to ride some momentum into this daunting trip to Dublin.
The last time the sides met was back in 2017 when an under-fire Bok outfit were smacked 38-3 after a superbly-executed aerial assault from the hosts completely exposed the tourists’ many shortcomings at the back. That’s unlikely to happen this weekend with Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the pitch, but there will be other areas Andy Farrell’s charges will look to target.
CHESLIN KOLBE IS BACK 🔥 🔥 #Springboks pic.twitter.com/1nEVJTaWA4
— Nicolaas Barnard (@NBarns) November 1, 2022
Ireland’s attack is probably the most complex in the game at present, and the offensive angles and patterns the side adopts will pose the Boks’ rush D plenty of questions this weekend; particularly in the continued absence of Lukhanyo Am (Jesse Kriel will wear No 13 and much will hinge on his display in midfield).
The Irish loosies, spearheaded by the indefatigable Josh van der Flier, are an absolute menace with ball in hand and at the breakdown, and the Bok back row of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese will need to put in a massive shift to keep them quiet.
Kwagga Smith and Deon Fourie will appear off the wood for the Boks, and the diminutive duo are also likely to have a say at the breakdown late on in the contest.
Jaden Hendrikse and Damian Willemse’s decision-making at halfback will be under immense scrutiny, and their performances are likely to be magnified playing opposite Irish combo Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray (the latter of whom will play his 100th Test for the Emerald Isle).
With wet weather expected, the set piece will be cardinal to the fortunes of both sides and, honestly, there’s little to separate them in this department. Ireland wreaked havoc on the All Blacks’ lineout in July, while the South Africans boasted the best scrum success (84%) in this year’s Rugby Championship. It’s set to be one of many battles within the war.
With both teams set to meet in Pool B of next year’s World Cup, the result of this one is hugely significant.
It will be a titanic showdown at the Aviva, but Ireland’s home support and more accomplished all-round game should lift them to a win of six points or more. I’ll be on Ireland to clear the minus.
