Rassie Erasmus’ all-conquering Springboks face their sternest Autumn Nations Series test yet when they travel to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to take on Ireland this Saturday.
The world champions may have retained their Rugby World Cup crown in 2023, but Ireland handed them their only defeat of that tournament in the pool stage. The two sides met again last July in Durban, where Ireland edged a thriller 25-24. Few teams have got the better of South Africa under Erasmus, but Ireland have now done it twice in the last 18 months.
With the Boks gradually aligning themselves more with the Northern Hemisphere (next year they host England, Scotland and Wales in the new Nations Championship, and their franchises already compete in European competitions), reclaiming dominance over Ireland has taken on extra importance.
Prop Thomas du Toit shrugged off revenge talk: “The media loves that narrative, but we don’t look at it that way. We’ve been treating every game as its own challenge this year, not carrying baggage from the past. That said, we’re giving this week the same huge focus we give every Test.”
Key info
Date & time: Saturday 22 November – 19:40 CAT / 17:40 GMT / 18:40 local (Dublin)
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
How to watch: SuperSport (South Africa)
Team news – Springboks
Franco Mostert’s red card against Italy was overturned, but the Boks left him out anyway to keep focus on the task at hand. Lood de Jager misses the second of his four-match ban.
RG Snyman will win his 50th cap from the bench. Cobus Reinach (49th cap) and Cheslin Kolbe (49th cap) both reach milestones as starters. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu keeps the No.10 jersey ahead of Manie Libbok.
Starting XV:
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach,
8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter
Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok
(Note: Esterhuizen can cover centre or flank, effectively giving a 6-2 or 5-3 split depending on need.)
Ireland XV (announced):
15 Mack Hansen, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park,
8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 James Ryan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Bench: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Cian Prendergast, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Tom Farrell
Head-to-head
- Ireland have won 4 of the last 5 meetings (since 2017)
- Ireland unbeaten against the Boks at Aviva Stadium since 2012 (3 straight wins)
- Springboks riding a 6-Test winning streak heading in
