Ireland v South Africa
Ireland face uphill task against in-form Springboks
Will Macpherson
November 7, 2014
Jonny Sexton starts at fly-half for Ireland, Tommy Bowe returns © PA Photos
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So far, so good for Joe Schmidt as Ireland coach. He has only been in the job a year and last season became just the fourth coach to win the Championship at the first time of asking and notched Ireland's first ever wins in Argentina. But the next six months are key: a major Southern Hemisphere scalp is crucial en route to the World Cup and last season's impressive Six Nations campaign needs to be replicated or bettered.

This month presents Schmidt's stiffest challenge yet. Ireland are a settled side but the first three months of the season have not been kind as Schmidt's team has been ravaged by injury. Of his side that won the Six Nations, Cian Healy, Andrew Trimble, Dave Kearney, Jordi Murphy, Iain Henderson, Gordon D'Arcy, Marty Moore, Fergus McFadden and Rory Best are missing this weekend, while Luke Marshall and Donnacha Ryan are also ruled out.

That's not to say Ireland look weak, though. They welcome back Peter O'Mahony and Tommy Bowe - who hasn't played since last November - and have experience throughout the side. The potential weakness comes in the brave new post-O'Driscoll world as debutant Jared Payne joins Robbie Henshaw in the centres.

Team News

  • Ireland: Joe Schmidt has a new centre pairing, with newly-qualified Jared Payne joined by 21-year-old Connacht man Robbie Henshaw in Gordon D'Arcy's injury-enforced absence. Rory Best's calf injury sees Sean Cronin start at hooker, while Mike Ross, who hasn't played for Leinster for a month due to a groin injury, lines up at tighthead. Tommy Bowe and Simon Zebo return on the wings.
  • South Africa: The Springboks have the luxury of being able to name the same XV that defeated New Zealand at Ellis Park a month ago. The only change to the 23 is at replacement prop, where Coenie Oosthuizen comes in for Marcel van der Merwe.

Ireland's opponents, fresh from becoming the first side to beat the All Blacks since December 2012, are an increasingly formidable outfit and appear to be peaking at the right time ahead of the World Cup. Heyneke Meyer has unearthed a wonderful fly-half in Handré Pollard - a game-breaking creative player capable of sparking talented outside backs like Willie le Roux and Cornal Hendricks.

The Springboks spine is increasingly settled, from the outstanding Sharks front row of Tendai Mtarawira and the du Plessis brothers, locks Victor Matfield and Eden Etzebeth and No.8 Duane Vermeulen. In the backs, captain Jean de Villiers and Bryan Habana's experience complements youthful Pollard and Jan Serfontein.

What's more, the Springboks come in rested but settled after their fine Rugby Championship campaign, with that victory over the All Blacks fresh in the memory. Ireland, on the other hand, haven't played together since June and need to hit the ground running. For both sides, this fixture represents the first step of the final World Cup push - the Springboks have just eight games before they kick off their World Cup against Japan in Brighton on September 19 next year. Each and every one of those eight is crucial.

Key battle

The pair may have spent the week trading compliments but it's hard to look beyond the battle of the grand old men at lock: Paul O'Connell and Victor Matfield. The South African has been in resplendent form since making his international return earlier this year, dominating the lineout and leading by example. O'Connell isn't so bad at that himself, though. He recently turned 35 but, if his counterpart on Saturday is anything to go by (Matfield will be 38 by the time the World Cup rolls round), there's plenty of life in the old dog yet.

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In form

As per usual, the Irish provinces have made an impressive start to the Pro12 season, with the four sides all sat in the top half. Tommy Bowe has looked somewhere back to his best for Ulster, while Schmidt will be delighted that Peter O'Mahony's return from injury has been smooth. The blindside's industry is crucial for the hosts.

Heyneke Meyer took a gamble throwing greenhorn Pollard into South Africa's Rugby Championship side but it was one that paid off handsomely as he orchestrated that 27-25 victory over the All Blacks, scoring a brace of tries and marshalling the game superbly. Meyer's side is increasingly settled and Pollard's creativity sits at the heart of a team with an impressive blend of youth and experience.

South Africa's Willie le Roux looks to beat New Zealand's Aaron Smith, New Zealand v South Africa, Rugby Championship, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, September 13, 2014
South Africa's Willie le Roux looks to beat New Zealand's Aaron Smith © Getty Images
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Out of form

Ireland's midfield is the great unknown. Will Henshaw and Payne - both of whom have played much of their provincial rugby in the 15 jersey - blend instantly? Their challenge is stiff, lining up opposite a pair of tackle machines in Jean de Villiers and Jan Serfontein. Elsewhere, Ross will need to find his feet quickly after injury, his task is equally challenging, with Tendai 'Beast' Mtarawira waiting for him.

South Africa boast experience across the park - especially in the tight five, no obvious weaknesses and have even been increasingly expansive. It says much for their developing depth that scrum-half Francois Hougaard is their third choice, with Ruan Pienaar and Fourie du Preez missing out with injury. Hougaard's presence presents an opportunity for Ireland, though. Conor Murray is a quality operator opposite Hougaard, whose kicking game can be wayward and his game management suspect.

Odds

South Africa are favourites - you can get them 1.33 with Unibet, while, Ireland sit at 3.3.

Stats

  • This is just the fifth time in 34 tests in charge that Heyneke Meyer has been able to name an unchanged side.
  • The two sides have met 21 times, with South Africa coming out on top 16 times, Ireland four with one draw.

Prediction

Springboks by 7.

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