Image source, Info & Getty Images
- author, Matt Gault
- role, Senior Journalist at BBC Sport NI
South Africa vs Ireland first test
date: Saturday, July 6 kick off: 16:00 BST venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
coverage: You can watch live text updates, match reports and reaction on the BBC Sport website and app.
A lot has changed in the 10 months since Ireland recorded their enchanting World Cup victory over South Africa on that memorable night at the Stade de France.
That night, as the unofficial Irish national anthem, “Zombie”, filled the iconic Paris venue and the men in green soaked in their huge victory, it felt like history was in the making for Ireland.
As Grand Slam champions and the No. 1 team in the world, many expected Ireland to be just a few weeks away from being crowned world champions.
Of course, those predictions were wildly wrong, and after Ireland suffered another heartbreaking quarter-final defeat at the hands of the All Blacks, South Africa reaffirmed their status as a global rugby powerhouse by beating France, England and New Zealand.
It’s a blow to Ireland and, despite defending their Six Nations title earlier this year, Andy Farrell’s side will be touring South Africa for two Test matches looking to prove something.
Even at the end of a marathon season, this clash between the two best teams in the world was sure to be a blockbuster, and with South Africa playing their part in stirring up the heat in the run-up, this promises to be another fascinating chapter in one of world rugby’s fiercest rivalries.
The time for discussion is over
The build-up to last year’s World Cup encounter was one of respect, with the favoured quarter-final between Ireland and New Zealand, who were looking to avenge their 2022 series loss to Farrell’s side.
But Damian de Allende and Eben Etzebeth have both been in the spotlight in recent months, with former Munster man de Allende predicting Saturday’s opening game will be “like war”.
And last week, South Africa manager Rassie Erasmus – whose press conferences are refreshingly free-spirited and entertaining – posted on X predicting Farrell’s starting XI for Saturday’s opening Test. (Interestingly, at the time of writing Erasmus only follows one official Ireland rugby account on the X platform.)
But Farrell wasn’t expecting a curveball, handing Jamie Osborn a surprise debut at full-back and leaving Erasmus’ pick, Jimmy O’Brien, on the bench.
Farrell, like his predecessors, missed the opportunity to take part in the pre-series mind game, describing Erasmus’ social media posts as “very funny” and “brilliant”.
Farrell, a master of keeping his information secret when speaking to the media, prefers to do the talking on the pitch, but it is up to the players to decide whether he has the final say.
Personnel change
It has been less than a year since the two teams faced off in the World Cup, but there have been major personnel changes on both teams.
Jack Nienaber, who led South Africa to victory in the Webb Ellis Cup as head coach, is now in Ireland as a Leinster player. “Jack calls me every night and tells me all about Ireland,” Erasmus joked last week.
Of course, Erasmus has an Irishman in his squad, with 2009 Grand Slam winner Gerry Flannery taking over as defence coach earlier this year.
Former New Zealand fly-half Tony Brown has also been roped in as attacking coach, with South Africa’s two-time World Cup winner Duane Vermeulen and former umpire Jaco Peiper also on board.
There is also continuity: Siya Kolisi, captain during both World Cup triumphs, continues in the role after speculation that Erasmus would promote a South African-based player (Kolisi now plays club rugby for Racing 92 in France).
South African fans will be heartened to see specialist goalkicker Handre Pollard in action in Pretoria. Pollard was injured in a World Cup match in which South Africa lost by five points, with Manny Reebok and Faf de Klerk both missing two tee kicks.
Ireland injuries and Farrell’s surprise selection
Image source, Getty Images
Ireland’s biggest change came on the pitch, with Johnny Sexton retiring after the World Cup and Jack Crowley taking on the number 10 shirt.
Crowley impressed during the Six Nations and will have a familiar face lining up alongside him at scrum-half with Munster team-mate Craig Casey, while uncapped Jamie Osborne will have a golden opportunity to impress at full-back.
But Ireland are missing key players Hugo Keenan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Mac Hansen – all vital cogs in the backline – and while Farrell had planned without Keenan, who is booked for the Olympics, and the injured Hansen, who hasn’t played since January, news of Gibson-Park’s hamstring injury comes as a major blow.
South Africa will be emboldened by the weakening of Ireland’s backline and are likely to target Osborn, who lacks experience in both Test and fullback roles, and with the match at high altitude, South Africa will likely rely on the 22-year-old to deliver the kind of kicking that Keenan is always confident in.
Farrell’s hand seems to be weakening but the Englishman is in the habit of making the most of what he’s given.
Ireland chases history again
As well as the 2022 New Zealand series, Ireland will be hoping to secure their first series win against the Springboks on South African soil.
Ireland have beaten South Africa in their previous three meetings but it always takes a Herculean effort to win in South Africa – their only victory in 10 meetings came in 2016 when Ireland played with such spirit they won 26-20 despite CJ Stander receiving a red card after 22 minutes.
Indeed, South Africa are a formidable team in front of their home fans, winning 11 of their last 13 home Tests, but 12 months ago they were thrashed by Argentina, winning 22-21 in a Rugby Championship match in Johannesburg.
The win over the All Blacks two years ago came in three Test matches but a win over the Springboks in the next fortnight will be remembered as another major achievement for Farrell, 12 months on from making his debut as British and Irish Lions head coach.
It will also be a brief return to Pretoria for a healthy Leinster squad, with Leinster losing 25-20 to the Bulls in the URC semi-final last month, marking a third consecutive trophy-less season for the Irish side.
Confronting unpleasant memories of Loftus Versfeld and the rabid fans in Pretoria is part of the challenge of going into the backyard of the best team in the world.