Autumn Nations Series: Ireland face daunting South Africa problem however have confirmed Springboks’ bogey facet

Ireland head into the weekend’s headline Autumn Nations Series conflict towards South Africa in Dublin as sizeable underdogs, however latest historical past suggests issues might not show simple for the Springboks.

Rassie Erasmus’ outfit have appeared fearsomely sturdy this month, beginning their autumn with a 61-7 victory over Japan at Wembley, which was adopted by spectacular 32-17 and 32-14 wins away to France and Italy respectively – each Tests during which they had been lowered to 14 gamers for giant spells after everlasting pink playing cards.

The win over reigning Six Nations champions France in Paris was a selected present of power and depth, coming from behind to win a match they appeared lifeless and buried in.

Ireland, against this, have performed out a reasonably inconsistent autumn to this point. They started – albeit undercooked, and after a controversial early Tadhg Beirne pink card – with a disappointing 26-13 defeat to New Zealand in Chicago, earlier than a scratchy 41-10 win over Japan in Dublin after which a document 46-19 win over Australia after they appeared much more like their previous selves.

How a lot of that second half surge towards the Wallabies was right down to the guests’ seen fatigue – they’ve performed 14 Tests since July – stays to be seen, however such a outcome was a lift to Ireland’s confidence as a lot as the rest.

Heading to this weekend, most would class South Africa because the world’s present greatest facet, and that regardless of them performing in removed from classic style to only about declare the Rugby Championship title final month – they misplaced at dwelling to Australia, almost misplaced to the Wallabies on dwelling soil a second time, and likewise misplaced to the All Blacks at Eden Park.

But whereas query marks arose throughout the Rugby Championship, the Autumn has been a present of energy and expertise.

Saturday poses an enormous problem for Ireland, subsequently, and but the 2 sides head into this contest with the Irish having received 4 of the final 5 Tests between them. In some ways, Ireland have confirmed South Africa’s bogey facet.

Irish wins have are available in Dublin in 2017 and 2022, in Paris on the 2023 Rugby World Cup – which South Africa would go on to win – and in Durban in 2024 to safe a 1-1 sequence draw.

South Africa’s sole win over the identical time interval was a 27-20 victory in Pretoria in a Test dominated by essential TMO interventions, and every week earlier than Ireland hit again to win on South African soil.

Since Erasmus departed his contract at Irish province Munster in acrimonious style a year-and-a-half early to take cost of South Africa in 2017, Ireland have had their quantity.

While the wins in 2022 and 2023 got here as a part of a 17-Test successful run which put Ireland as world No 1 and World Cup favourites in France, nevertheless, Andy Farrell’s facet seem nicely off these earlier ranges proper now, and have needed to bat off options they’re a crew in decline.

There could be no method higher technique to show they aren’t than by taking the scalp of the present world No 1 Boks once more, however it’ll require their greatest efficiency for a while so as to take action.

At the identical time, if historical past is something to go by, the Springboks is not going to have it straightforward within the Irish capital this weekend both. It’s completely poised.

‘Ireland’s physicality should vastly enhance if they’re to have an opportunity’

Ireland defence coach Simon Easterby spoke to media this week, and was underneath no illusions as to the problem that awaits:

“We’ll certainly take the positives from the (Australia) game, but also understand we need to get better each week and I think we’ve been doing that across the series of three games so far and that’ll need to be the case this weekend against South Africa,” Easterby stated.

“You understand that they have strengths that other teams don’t have and you’ve got to find a few weaknesses as well, so we need to be better at what we do with and without the ball.

“That consists of our physicality, it consists of the power for us to cease a crew scoring tries after they get into our 22 which we weren’t ok at on the weekend, in order that’s worldwide rugby and it would not matter who you play, the physicality needs to be a given.

“I think there’s other things to factor into this series: the challenges of going to Chicago, spending time away, dealing with that loss and building resilience in the squad.

“It’s not all the time going to be excellent, you are not going to have it your personal method on a regular basis.

“There’s been plenty of open and honest conversations in the group and it’s no better challenge than South Africa coming to the Aviva on the weekend for us to see if we can put a lot of those things into practice that we’ve spoken about trying to improve on.”

In phrases of Ireland’s squad, impactful Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey will miss out in a serious blow as a result of a groin harm, however flanker Josh van der Flier and centre Garry Ringrose ought to return following hamstring complaints:

“It’s been a good weekend for them I guess in terms of getting through what they needed to do in terms of their rehab and they’ve hit the ground running this week,” stated Easterby.

“The mood is really good and the lads have trained well today.”