WELCOME TO TODAY’s liveblog where the world’s No1 side, Ireland, take on the world champions, South Africa, at the Aviva Stadium.

It promises to be a fascinating contest, not just because of the clash of styles, but also because of the longer-term implications. Whoever wins today is essentially laying down a marker ahead of next year’s World Cup, when these teams reunite in the pool stages.

Each team have a distinct way of playing, South Africa unashamedly preferring to use grunt, Ireland guile. The Irish game-plan has essentially been borrowed from Leinster’s playbook, so many of Leo Cullen’s starting XV swapping blue for green.

And it has worked. Ever since England were comprehensively beaten in the 2021 Six Nations, Ireland have been on an upward curve. They were brilliant against Japan and Argentina and then moved onto another level in three of their four meetings with New Zealand.

South Africa, meanwhile, have done what South Africa often do inbetween World Cups, experimenting a little, before returning to what they do best. During the Rugby Championship, they mauled their way to victory over Argentina but on other occasions they spun it wide. Indeed over 50 per cent of their tries came from open play.

It’ll be interesting to see how they get on today without de Klerk and Pollard as their starting half-backs. Will this result in a little more ambition? Will their giant pack ensure that the game is played on their terms? Or can Ireland impose their will on proceedings?

If they are to do so then a big performance isn’t just needed from Johnny Sexton but also Stuart McCloskey outside him. The big Ulsterman is winning just his seventh cap, Robert Baloucoune only his third. It’s sink-or-swim time for them; it’s pretty important for everyone else, too.

Kick-off is just under an hour away. So let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Here are your teams for today’s game.

Ireland:

• 15. Hugo Keenan
• 14. Robert Baloucoune
• 13. Garry Ringrose
• 12. Stuart McCloskey
• 11. Mack Hansen
• 10. Johnny Sexton
• 9. Conor Murray

• 1. Andrew Porter
• 2. Dan Sheehan
• 3. Tadhg Furlong
• 4. Tadhg Beirne
• 5. James Ryan
• 6. Peter O’Mahony
• 7. Josh van der Flier
• 8. Caelan Doris

Replacements:

• 16. Rob Herring
• 17. Cian Healy
• 18. Finlay Bealham
• 19. Kieran Treadwell
• 20. Jack Conan
• 21. Jamison Gibson Park
• 22. Joey Carbery
• 23. Jimmy O’Brien

South Africa:

• 15. Cheslin Kolbe
• 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse
• 13. Jesse Kriel
• 12. Damian de Allende
• 11. Makazole Mapimpi
• 10. Damian Willemse
• 9. Jaden Hendrikse

• 1. Steven Kitshoff
• 2. Malcolm Marx
• 3. Frans Malherbe
• 4. Eben Etzebeth
• 5. Lood de Jager
• 6. Siya Kolisi (captain)
• 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
• 8. Jasper Wiese

Replacements:

• 16. Bongi Mbonambi
• 17. Ox Nché
• 18. Vincent Koch
• 19. Franco Mostert
• 20. Deon Fourie
• 21. Kwagga Smith
• 22. Faf de Klerk
• 23. Willie le Roux

Referee: Nika Amashukeli [Georgia].

If you are looking for some pre-match reading then you have come to the right place.

Here is Murray Kinsella’s match preview.

Meanwhile Ciaran Kennedy spoke to Paul O’Connell yesterday and got the Munster legend’s thoughts on Ireland’s new status as the world’s number one ranked team.

Andy Farrell has told his players to ‘embrace’ their number one ranking, a tag which weighed heavily on Joe Schmidt’s squad ahead of the 2019 World Cup. Speaking after yesterday’s Captain’s Run at Aviva Stadium, forwards coach Paul O’Connell downplayed the significance of being the team ranked top of the tree.

James Ryan also spoke yesterday, reflecting on the ups and downs of his career. You can read his piece here.

🗣 "We'd almost reached our ceiling in 2018. We thought we had the magic potion."

🗣 "There was a naivety to us."

Rob Kearney & Andrew Trimble on the differences between this Ireland team and the last time we were World No.1#IREvSA | #AMS pic.twitter.com/TgeJhkf4mQ

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2022

A special occasion awaits for our number nine. 👕#TeamOfUs | #IREvSA pic.twitter.com/WvtPoOidsb

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 5, 2022

South Africa’s Siya Kolisi and Johnny Sexton of Ireland during the coin toss Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Brilliant to have @CJStander with us this evening! ☘️

Hear his pre-match thoughts at the Aviva here. #IREvSA | #AMS pic.twitter.com/yCIE4krKKO

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2022

How crucial has this man been to @IrishRugby's success over the years?

Congratulations on the 💯 today, Conor ☘️#AutumnNationsSeries | #IREvRSA pic.twitter.com/nOm1sft5qi

— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) November 5, 2022

There were wins earlier this afternoon for Scotland over Fiji and New Zealand against Wales.

Adam Hastings was forced off early in the second half of Scotland’s 28-12 victory over Fiji with a head injury, while he is also having a knee issue assessed, raising concerns that he will be unable to face the All Blacks next week.

Asked if he would consider giving  Finn Russell a belated call-up, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said: “If Adam is out, Finn would be in the mix, of course. I’d imagine he’d be available.”

Jack Crowley was among the extra players with Ireland for their warm-up today.

— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) November 5, 2022

Teams ready to come out onto the field here. Just over seven minutes to kick off.

Here they come.

Anthems underway.

Not a note in their heads, bless them. To be fair, people have paid to watch them play rugby rather than hear them sing.

We are underway.

1 minute – Great catch from Ringrose gifts Ireland possession in the South Africa 22. They win an offside penalty and Johnny Sexton will go for the posts.

PENALTY IRELAND 2 minutes – Johnny Sexton kicks the penalty – that is 69 points versus the Springboks for Sexton – and Ireland lead 3-0.

Ireland 3-0 South Africa

Not having those Irish jerseys.

Good defence from Ireland – especially from Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose who stay connected – but Springboks had a won an earlier penalty off their lineout. They go to the corner.

5 minutes – What a defensive effort from Ireland, Tadhg Furlong eventually caught offside but Ireland did a fine job, first to stop their maul, then to stay organised as South Africa went through 18 phases. Stuart McCloskey put in two huge tackles. They still cough up three points but it could have been worse.

PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA 9 minutes – Damian Willemse kicks an easy penalty after that multi-phased attack.

Ireland 3-3 South Africa

11 minutes – Right, the absolute pace of this game is frightening. Makes the earlier Scotland-Fiji and Wales-New Zealand tests look second division in comparison. Defences edging it so far. First scrum about to happen.

13 minutes – Scrum goes okayish for Ireland but as Sexton tries to spin it wide across the field, a loose pass leaves Mack Hansen isolated and he drifts infield where he gets crunched by Damian De Allende. Advantage South Africa so far.

15 minutes – South African scrum leads to a free kick and another South African attack. Stuart McCloskey and Caelan Doris combine to get a vital steal. Stuart has made an incredible start on this his biggest day in an Irish shirt since his debut in 2016.

15 minutes Tadhg Beirne getting treatment for a blood injury.

Time to breathe. One hectic start. South Africa imposing their game on Ireland more than Ireland are on their visitors. And yet, some positives for Andy Farrell to consider. Ireland’s defence has been exceptional.

16 minutes – Sexton finds a great touch from that penalty.

17 minutes – Absolutely fascinating passage of play as Sexton took the ball right to the line – and in spite of some intense pressure – Ireland held their nerve and spun the ball wide. Once there, Mack Hansen was crunched by Cheslin Kolbe. TMO determining whether it was a tip tackle.

17 minutes – dangerous tackle is the decision and a yellow card is shown to Kolbe.

17 minutes South Africa down to 14 for ten minutes. Penalty for Ireland and a chance to get some territory.

18 minutes – Makazole Mapimpi puts in a perfectly timed tackle on Hugo Keenan – saves a try in the process. Build-up play was great – O’Mahony with the take, McCloskey with the pass out the back and then Hansen put too much air on his pass. Keenan won’t thank him for that. South Africa win a turnover penalty. Down the other end, Sexton concedes a penalty for a high tackle.

20 minutes – horrendous effort from Willemse, miscues it shockingly.

Ireland 3-3 South Africa

22 minutes South Africa meanwhile win another penalty after a counter ruck involving Malcolm Marx. Willemse opts to go to the corner.

23 minutes – Paul O’Connell has earned his money; Ireland’s maul defence has been seriously good. South Africa go off their feet from subsequent phase. But so far there has been a big effort put in by Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier and Peter O’Mahony.

McCloskey, arguably, has been Ireland’s best player so far.

27 minutes – Kolbe’s time in the bin ends but the ten minutes he was resting were dominated by South Africa. Only for some seriously good Irish defence, the Springboks would be seven points clear. Under pressure, Dan Sheehan produces an incredible turnover. Hansen, so far, has lacked accuracy in his passes and kicks.

27 minutes – McCloskey injured and Jimmy O’Brien is ready to come in. Looks like a shoulder injury. He was having a huge game. Ireland’s backline now looks unbalanced.

No Aki, no Henshaw, no McCloskey – Ringrose goes to 12, O’Brien to outside centre.

30 minutes – So scrum to South Africa; Dan Sheehan with the knock-on. Springboks putting serious pressure on Sexton but he is holding his nerve and spinning passes out to his wings. Nothing has come off that policy yet but you get the sense Ireland just need to get lucky once and they’ll be away.

Peter O’Mahony, meanwhile, wins a penalty close to the touchline. Sexton finds about ten metres with his kick.

Is that a try? Great effort from Dan Sheehan.

The answer is no.

31 minutes – Sheehan blocks clearance kick from Willemse; he then kicks forward – his grandfather played soccer for Ireland – and in attempt to touch it down, he knocks it forward. Some game, this. Intense, high skilled, great defending.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Willemse’s kicking is the worst the Aviva has seen since Gibraltar came here and lost 7-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

34 minutes – Really good passage of play from Ireland; starts with a break from Conor Murray; great break from Ringrose. Credit where it is due – South Africa’s defending was superb there. South Africa lose Lood de Jager to injury. Appears to be his shoulder.

Conor Murray off with thigh injury and Jamison Gibson Park.

35 minutes – PENALTY IRELAND (Sexton)

Ireland 6-3 South Africa

Sexton converts penalty from in front of the posts – awarded for a no arms tackle.

37 minutes – two grubber kicks put Ireland in trouble – Robert Baloucoune covers impressively. Springboks have penalty on the ten metre line. Willemse going to kick to the corner.

Ten metres out, South African throw, two minutes to the break, three points in it. James Ryan steals it. Big moment.

Tadhg Furlong down with an injury.

Finlay Bealham, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

39 minutes Furlong getting his ankle strapped. He will probably stay on.

40 minutes – penalty awarded to South Africa in front of the posts for offside.

Willemse going for the posts.

40 minutes Penalty South Africa (Cheslin Kolbe)

Kolbe takes over the kicking duties

So half-time and it is Ireland 6-6 South Africa

HALF-TIME Ireland 6-6 South Africa

Right, that was an incredible half of rugby. We’re not saying it was the best stuff we’ve ever seen but it was just so intense, so fascinating in terms of the conflict in styles, and so impressive in terms of how Ireland stayed in the fight despite being outplayed for chunks of the opening period.

Their defence has been superb; their maul defence getting 10/10 marks. The attack has not clicked under some serious pressure and the injury list – McCloskey off, Murray off, Ryan and Furlong needing treatment – is an issue.

You’d put your money on South Africa at this point.

Wouldn’t you? Well, let us know in the comments section.

McCloskey leaves the field with injury. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

This is all balanced on a knife-edge.

Thrilling and sickening to watch in equal measures!

— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) November 5, 2022

Sad sight as Conor Murray is off injured on his 100th cap.

Meanwhile Johnny Sexton kicks Ireland back in front!

☘️ 6-3 🇿🇦#IREvSA | #ANS pic.twitter.com/rYAFPnmuJz

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2022

Second half about to start and Finlay Bealham is on for Tadhg Furlong. Ankle injury by the looks of things.

Three big injuries for Ireland in the opening half – Murray, Furlong and McCloskey. If Ireland get a win out of this, it’ll be some result.

This is a major examination of Finlay Bealham now. If he copes here, he can book his seat on the plane to Paris next year.

43 minutes – And Ireland have just won a scrum penalty. Good start, Bealham.

Now Sexton is down.

Offside against Frans Malherbe. Kickable penalty coming up.

46 minutes Sexton goes for the corner.

Deserved three points for Ireland; they have been brave with the ball in hand, and have passed the ball under severe pressure; big call by Sexton – who has recovered from his knock.

Van der Flier thinks he has scored and the TMO will tell us if he has or not.

46 minutes TRY IRELAND (VAN DER FLIER)

Ireland 11-6 South Africa

What a big moment; Ireland went for it; Sheehan found Ryan with his throw; the maul moved at an angle towards the touchline but van der Flier gambled and went for the line. He got it down. Superb finish for the Irish flanker.

That is vindication for two big calls, one by Sexton to go for the corner; another from van der Flier to realise he was going to end up in touch unless he broke off the maul and dived for the line.

Ireland are doing something special out here.

CONVERSION missed by Sexton

Correction to earlier post: It was O’Mahony who collected Sheehan’s throw rather than Ryan.

TRY IRELAND HANSEN

49 minutes Ireland 16-6 South Africa

Credit first to Hugo Keenan for a brilliant take in the air; counter attack from Ringrose gains metres, then Doris and van der Flier do great work to keep possession and that is before we talk about the magic involving Jamison Gibson Park, who dummied his pass, saw the gap and went for it, Jimmy O’Brien took up possession and spun it wide where Hansen finished it off. Sexton misses the conversion but Ireland lead by ten.

Also worth pointing out Bealham’s tip on pass in that move; the tighthead is answering all the doubters so far.

52 minutes Hugo Keenan puts in a brilliant tackle on  Jesse Kriel. Ireland are putting in a massive shift here in the third quarter. Scrum to Ireland.

54 minutes Ireland have won another scrum penalty. Yes, you read that correctly. Ireland have won another scrum penalty. Andrew Porter, take a bow old son.

We interrupt this liveblog to remind you that blue is not an Irish colour. What’s going on with those shirts?

MACK HANSEN! ☘️

That is a stunning Irish try!!#IREvSA | #ANS pic.twitter.com/zPXM9FqSWj

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2022

TRY FOR IRELAND! 🟢

Josh van der Flier gets it down, somehow!

That is absolutely brilliant!#IREvSA | #ANS pic.twitter.com/xYVIgO96n2

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2022

56 minutes Robert Baloucoune knocks on as he tries to take a difficult ball in the air. To be fair, the winger has had a good day so far.

58 minutes – South Africa empty the bench. They are on plan c at this stage.

59 minutes Ox Nché wins a scrum penalty off Bealham. They go to the corner. Maul formed; maul stopped by Ireland and penalty won. Andrew Porter and Ryan and O’Mahony have just done something special there.

62 minutes -
Folks we have just witnessed three mad minutes. It ended with Willemse knocking it on – seriously he has had a mare that lad – but before we get there, the following happened.

* Ireland won another scrum penalty

* Gibson Park and Tadhg Beirne kicked a wee bit crazily when Ireland needed some boring kick it into the stands type behaviour

* Garry Ringrose put in one hell of a tackle

* Gibson Park put in an even better one and is now getting treatment

* South Africa went for a tap penalty at half way and took the play into the Ireland 22. That was where Willemse knocked it on.

65 minutes – Penalty just inside the half-way line for South Africa after Ryan was penalised for holding on.

Doris and van der Flier made big carries to ease pressure.

Willemse misses touch. I could kick better than that lad.

We are going to the TMO folks but it looks like a try to South Africa

TRY SOUTH AFRICA Franco Mostert

67 minutes Ireland 16-11 South Africa

Conversion to come.

Missed conversion by Kolbe. Massive moment in a low-scoring game.

68 minutes – Jack Conan in for Peter O’Mahony. Valium sales going through the roof.

Tense, tense game.

“Get your hats, scarves and valium.”

Willemse kicks it straight into touch. No comment needed. “Not been the lad’s day, has it Gilesey?”

Liquid rugby from Ireland. 😍#IREvSA | #ANS pic.twitter.com/aaoMOZe2Xr

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 5, 2022

70 minutes – We had a water break …… in November …. in Ireland.

I give up.

72 minutes Penalty to Ireland. Sexton can kick this. Could be an eight point game here. This is the game, guys and girls.

73 minutes PENALTY IRELAND (Sexton)

Ireland 19-11 South Africa

He nails it.

Six minutes to go. Eight points in it.

Five minutes to go.

TRY SOUTH AFRICA Kurt-Lee Arendse

Ireland 19-16 South Africa

Kolbe misses the conversion. Etzebeth offload to Arendse was superb for the try.

Three minutes to go.

Sexton has gone off, Carbery on.

Two and a half minutes to go.

Penalty to Ireland just inside the South Africa half. Big moment.

Now just 90 seconds.

Carbery kicks to the 22.

50 seconds

Ringrose charges forward. So too Doris. Then Treadwell. 30 seconds to go.

ten seconds

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

FULL-TIME IRELAND 19-16 SOUTH AFRICA

To be fair, 19-16 was a big year in Irish rugby.

FULL-TIME: IRELAND 19-16 SOUTH AFRICA.

That was some win for Ireland. They were really tested by South Africa, had to endure some serious pressure in the first half, then a South African comeback in the second half. Bear in mind they got that win without Aki, Henshaw, Earls, Conway, Lowe.

Plus McCloskey, Furlong and Murray had to go off. Jimmy O’Brien on his debut was incredible; Jamison Gibson Park had a huge impact and the old stagers, Peter O’Mahony and Johnny Sexton had big, big games.

Player of the match was Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris ran him close.

The game was stunning. You don’t need loads of tries to have a classic. This was fascinating in terms of the conflicting styles, but also the mental resilience that Ireland showed. They were tested severely and yet they had answers to the questions. Yes, some scrum penalties went against them but they also won their share at the set-piece.

A word too for Hugo Keenan as he impressed. Van der Flier and Hansen got the tries, Sexton nine points with the boot. Ireland made a bit of a statement there.

Then again, it is the November before a World Cup year. They have form when it comes to this sort of thing.