The Springboks and Ireland face-off at Loftus Versveld Stadium in a blockbuster Test match on Saturday evening. Here’s everything you need to know.
Springboks, Ireland set to face-off at Loftus
There were no major surprises when Rassie Erasmus named his 23-man squad on Tuesday. Sure, an eyebrow or two were raised when we learned that Kwagga Smith cracked the nod at eighth-man with no room in the matchday 23 for Evan Roos. Smith showed signs of rust against Wales two weeks ago, but that outing would have done the diminutive destroyer a world of good. His battle against Caelan Doris will be fascinating to watch.
The backline features the same set of players who started against the All Blacks in the World Cup final with the exception of Willie le Roux who starts in place of the injured Damian Willemse. Le Roux was one of the Bulls’ standout performers in their run to the URC final, and his playmaking skills will be vital against the Irish.
Ireland have their own injury worries, with Jamison Gibson-Park set to miss the entire series. His loss cannot be understated, with his lightning-quick service key to the way Ireland attack. Craig Casey is entrusted with the nine jumper for the tourists.
So where will this tie be decided? Well, it seems fairly straightforward: will the Bok defence dominate or will the Irish attack dazzle under the Loftus lights? Gibson-Park is a big part of the way the tourists play and his absence will be felt. The Boks will need to slow the ball down and deny the Irish gainline supremacy. If the defensive system fires and Ireland are denied the lightning-quick ball they thrive on, it could get ugly for the tourists.
Unfinished business 😳#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/GFz5s12nib
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 2, 2024
When and where to watch?
The game will be broadcast on SuperSport Grandstand (channel 201 on DStv). The build-up gets underway at 16:00 with the live crossing at 16:50. Kick-off at Loftus Versveld is at 17:00.
There’s plenty of other rugby to get your teeth into today. The All Blacks host England early bells in Dunedin before the Wallabies and Wales clash in a rematch of that World Cup Pool game in which the Welsh stormed to a 40-6 victory.
Betting odds
The Boks are expected to win this. Here at Hollywoodbets we make Siya Kolisi and his boys seven-point favourites. Check out the match betting and the handicap spread below:
South Africa 31/100 | Draw 20/1 | Ireland 26/10
Handicap
South Africa (-7.5) 9/10 | Ireland (+7.5) 9/10
LOFTUS VERSVELD
The last time Ireland played at Loftus, Rassie Erasmus was packing down at number 7. The match took place on 20 June 1998 with Erasmus, the hot-headed James Dalton, Pieter Rossouw, Joost van der Westhuizen and Gary Teichmann all scoring with Percy Montgomery kicking four conversions.
The Boks have only lost twice in their last 17 outings at the ground, with both defeats coming against New Zealand – 30-32 in 2018 and 26-45 in 2006.
Last meeting and head-to-head
The last meeting between the sides was in the 2023 World Cup, with the Irish running out 13-8 winners in that titanic clash in Paris. In fact, the Irish have won their last three Test matches against the Boks, 19-16 in 2022 and that now infamous 38-3 hammering also at the Aviva.
- 23 September 2023: Ireland won 8-13 in Paris
- 5 November 2022: Ireland won 19-16 in Dublin
- 11 November 2017: Ireland won 38-3 in Dublin
- 25 June 2016: South Africa won 19-13 in Gqeberha
- 18 June 2016: South Africa won 32-26 in Johannesburg
The only Test match between the Springboks and Ireland at Loftus back in 1998 was a feisty affair 👀🥵 pic.twitter.com/AaIoJc1Srt
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 2, 2024
Teams
Rassie Erasmus is leaving nothing to chance in this series, selecting a core of players who got the job done in the 2023 World Cup final in Paris. There is some new blood on the bench in the form of Gerhard Steenkamp and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Ireland: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Garry Ringrose.
Your #Springboks team for tomorrow's clash against Ireland in Pretoria 🏉🇿🇦#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/QtB9cb8MzK
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 5, 2024
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