Autumn Internationals: Ireland v South Africa preview
Last Updated: 08/11/14 2:10pm
Six Nations champions Ireland welcome a buoyant South African side to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday for an eagerly-anticipated clash.
With a year to go until the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England both sides will be desperate to lay down a marker and get an understanding of their position in the grand scheme of things.
Ireland have not been in action since June, when they beat Argentina 23-17, while the Springboks are in full flow after ending New Zealand’s hegemony.
Heyneke Meyer’s side defeated the All Blacks and ended a run of 22 successive wins when they prevailed in The Rugby Championship and the Springboks head coach brings the very same starting XV to the Irish capital.
The South Africa squad has been together since mid-August and Meyer has had the rare luxury of working with most of his camp since the end of the Rugby Championship after the majority were withdrawn from Currie Cup duty.
World Cup countdown
With only eight games left before the World Cup (six of those on the road) Meyer has been meticulous in preparation and insists this is not an end-of-year tour, but rather a fresh challenge that must be taken seriously.
However, standing in their path is an Ireland side that claimed the Six Nations crown this year, although South Africa have prevailed in nine of their 14 matches on the Emerald Isle.
Under Joe Schmidt Ireland are a well-organised side and their use of a dominant line-out drive and reliable set piece were key to their Six Nations triumph.
That Six Nations success did bring down the curtain on Brian O’Driscoll’s career as the legendary centre bowed out on a high and now Ulster’s Jared Payne is charged with the task of filling the No 13 jersey.
New Zealand-born Payne joins Robbie Henshaw in midfield, while Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe and Simon Zebo form an pace-filled back-three.
Familiar faces
Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray resume their axis pairing behind a pack which will be powered by back-row trio Peter O’Mahony, Chris Henry and Jamie Heaslip.
Veteran Paul O’Connell links up with Devin Toner in the second row, with Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin and Mike Ross forming an all-Leinster front three.
Meyer’s side which brought down the all-conquering All Blacks remains as South Africa’s IRB Junior World Championship captain Handre Pollard dons the No 10 jersey once more, with Francois Hougaard named at scrum-half.
Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks and Bryan Habana combine in a prolific back three, with Jan Serfontein and skipper Jean de Villiers posted in the centres.
Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtwarira and the Du Plessis brothers – Bismarck and Jannie – form a powerful front row for the Springboks, with Victor Matfield in the engine room and driving force Duane Vermeulen at No 8.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney; 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Simon Zebo; 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Sean Cronin, 3 Mike Ross; 4 Devin Toner, 5 Paul O’Connell (capt); 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Chris Henry, 8 Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Dave Kilkoyne, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Mike McCarthy, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Felix Jones
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux; 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (capt), 11 Bryan Habana; 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois Hougaard; 1 Tendai Mtwarira, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 3 Jannie du Plessis; 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Victor Matfield; 6 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Tebo Mohoje, 8 Duane Vermeulen
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 JP Pietersen
Watch Ireland v South Africa live on Sky Sports 2 on Saturday from 5pm