Jonathan Sexton kicked five penalties in Ireland's victory over the Springboks at Croke Park in 2008 © Getty Images

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Matches: Ireland 21 - 23 South Africa

Tournaments/Tours: South Africa tour

Teams: Ireland | South Africa

Given Ireland's overall record against South Africa and the fact that the Springboks will arrive in Dublin as the reigning world champions, one would be forgiven for assuming that Declan Kidney's men might be approaching this weekend's game with a little trepidation.

However, the Irish will, in fact, be licking their lips in anticipation ahead of the visit of a side that they have trumped in their last three meetings.

Prior to their clash with the Boks at Lansdowne Road in the autumn of 2004, the Irish had only managed to beat South Africa on one previous occasion, a 9-6 victory in Dublin in 1965. They also held the Springboks to a draw at Lansdowne Road five years later but the other 14 games had all gone the way of their opponents.

However, everything changed when a Ronan O'Gara-inspired Ireland beat the Boks 17-12 in Dublin in 2004. Two years later they hammered South Africa 32-15, outscoring the recently-crowned world champions by four tries to two.

The Irish completed a hat-trick of wins over the Springboks when they last met, two years ago at Croke Park, with fly-half Jonathan Sexton emulating O'Gara by kicking his side to a 15-10 victory.

Kidney will be hoping for another game-winning contribution from his No.10 this weekend.

Ireland v South Africa All-time record: Played: 19, Ireland won 4, South Africa won 14, drawn 1

Biggest winning margin: Ire: 17, 32-15 at Lansdowne Road, 2006; SA: 38, 38-0 at Lansdowne Road, 1912.

Highest score: Ire: 32 (32-15) at Lansdowne Road, 2006; SA: 31 (31-28) at Twickenham, 2002

Most tries: Ire: 4 (32-15) at Lansdowne Road, 2006; SA: 10 (38-0) at Lansdowne Road, 1912.

Longest winning sequence: Ire: 3 (2004-present), SA: 8 (1981-2004)

Most points (individual): Ire: Ronan O'Gara 54; SA: Percy Montgomery 56

Most tries (individual): Ire: 2 Shane Horgan, Tyrone Howe and Harold Sugars; SA: 4 Stefan Terblanche

Most points in a Test: Ire: 17 Ronan O'Gara at Lansdowne Road, 2004; SA: 20 Stefan Terblanche at Bloemfontein, 2002

• Click here for Ireland's full Test record courtesy of Statsguru

• Click here for South Africa's Test record courtesy of Statsguru

• Click here for a record of all Ireland v South Africa matches courtesy of Statsguru

• Click here for a record of all Ireland's home games against South Africa matches courtesy of Statsguru