ALL ALONG, IRELAND’S clash with the Springboks has loomed over their World Cup campaign.
So while Ireland paid respect to Romania and Tonga by beating both sides in ruthless fashion, they’ve been thinking about the Springboks much more.
Beat the reigning champions next Saturday at Stade de France and Ireland will be strong favourites to top Pool B, even if they will still have to overcome Scotland a fortnight later.
The reality is that the clashes with the Romanians and Tongans have been akin to warm-up matches and while Ireland have clearly warmed up well – last night’s 59-16 win over the latter made it 20 tries in two games – they’re going to have to go to a different level against the Boks.
“We’re not ready quite yet but we certainly will be,” said Ireland head coach Andy Farrell.
“It’s something that we’ve talked about quite a bit, obviously with the opponents that we knew we were going to face.
“You know, best-laid plans and all that has been pretty good so far. We’ll take that a step further this week and get the players to own that as soon as we possibly can. It’s something that they’re doing very well at this moment in time.”
The Ireland boss knows his side need to improve for this huge test.
“Well, I would hope we will be better because we’ll certainly need to be when it gets to playing against a fantastic side in South Africa,” said Farrell.
“But two games under the belt is good for us. I felt for Tonga a little bit in the sense that they didn’t get to play last week and I think once you’ve got your first game out of the way, you find your rhythm better. It certainly looked like that from our point of view.
“Hopefully that rolls onto another level on the third week because, I mean, this is what World Cups are all about, weeks that are coming against the reigning world champions.
“It doesn’t get any better and one thing’s for sure, you know that the Irish are going to turn up and enjoy it as well. So it’s a fantastic week to look forward to.”
The most recent meeting between the sides was a 19-16 win for Ireland last November. That success was one of the 15 consecutive victories that Farrell’s men carry into this crucial Pool B clash.
Ireland hadn’t played the Boks for five years before that meeting last autumn but this fixture is one of the most eagerly-anticipated pool games of the entire World Cup. It promises to be epic and Ireland captain Johnny Sexton can’t wait to play them again.
Attempting to break down the Springboks’ oppressive defence is an intriguing challenge for Sexton and co.
“That’s the thing that they pride themselves on, they have shown they are a tough team to play against,” said Sexton last night. “We need to be very accurate when we decide to take it on or when we decide to kick.
“We probably learned a lot from the November international, I think. They try to put everyone under a huge amount of pressure with their linespeed and their pressure at the breakdown. It is something that is very similar to what Tonga did in the first half.
“We will face something similar to that. It’s good preparation. We took tonight’s game as a standalone, we wanted to give the Tongans the respect that they absolutely deserved because they are a very good team. It’s a good trial run for what’s ahead next week.”
Sexton has enjoyed a strong return for Ireland after six months out of the game, but he knows better than anyone that what he’s delivered in the first two weekends of this World Cup means nothing when it comes to taking on the Boks.
“The proof of whether I’m in good form will be next Saturday,” said Sexton. “You’ve got to go and do it in the games. There’s no point in saying you’re feeling good or whatever.
“I just take it day-by-day, make sure I recover well, turn up to training on Monday and Tuesday, and try and put the plan in place to take on the reigning world champions.
“They’ve hit a great vein of form and it’s going to be a huge challenge for us but one that we are really excited about and we feel we’re ready for it.”
Thank Christ for that , the longest bloody goodbye in the history of the planet !!! Finally able to watch a match without commentators verbally making love to him throughout the entire game
Shut up!! I’m sick of reading stupid comments like this… This man has put everything into any jersey he has worn over d past 15 year and never asked for any praise. just because he got a fitting farewell to his international career 2 months ago, some people think that this long goodbye has gone on forever… That’s just the way this season has ended, he didn’t intentionally plan it this way so that people could loathe more praise for him. And of course commentators etc should pay tribute him, if u open your eyes and recognise what he has achieved for his country and the sport, u wouldn’t make such an ignorant comment like this. And all u can say is that your delighted to see him go off injured. Idiot!!
Blah blah blah blah !!! We seen and heard it all before the reality is everyone is sick to the teeth of hearing about it , instead of doing the decent thing and quietly slipping off at the end if last season or even declaring it after today’s match he did it half way through this season a season he has played poorly ( bar maybe the away game to Northampton ) and been injured for the majority of it , today being farcical. Nothing personal against the guy just sick of the longest goodby in the history of mankind
Lol couldn’t agree more.
That was for Luke’s post!!
Here here! Embarrassing how the media goes on about him
Douglas
I hate to see your comment when you reach your teens!!!!
Bad in the Italy game too I presume?! Appreciate the man. Ireland is a specialist nation in begrudgery.
The Italy game ok he was involved in the three tries but isn’t that what he should be doing seeing he is the greatest player that ever played the game , Italy the mighty Italy . Oh don’t forget he gifted them their try as well with a world class clearance . Sure two good games a season is acceptable to you then , all you have to do is look at his performance for the lions to see he just went a season too far , don’t get me wrong he was a great centre but this season seemed selfish in my opinion
Here flash how many times did you play for Munster? Go on tell us again, we all like a good laugh
Luke go on name us one other Irish rugby player who was better?
What ???? Firstly what has my rugby playing days got to do with it and secondly what has Munster got to do with the Irish media and BOD’s never ending retirement saga . Jesus wept that is by far the worst comment ever posted since social media began
Well flash at least he’d have an excuse for his comments then !!
With all the man love emanating from you I’d say you probably play for the Emerald Warriors !!
You’re hilarious Bob !
Yep and your not …
Original – don’t give up the day job if you have the intelligence for one.
Ok Chris I think you need to read the comments again , I didn’t state that he wasn’t or was the greatest Irish player ever . Other people are !!! My point has been made several times in my other comments so instead of getting upset and emotional have a read of them first please. I take it you are in the same primary school class as Douglas who also got a bit carried away tonight , maybe you can both meet up and cry over a ribena remembering BOD’s greatest moments
Yea great come back that … Your hardy in any position to question anyone else’s intelligence
LOL !!!
Looking forward to your goodbye post
Sad way for him to go, thankfully got his fairytale in Paris.
Jeez Ian Madigan got SOME reception when he came on!
Cruel end to his career. That’s the nature of the sport though.
He will still get man of the match..
Least thats the end of him now…
I’m embarrassed for the bellends on this app , we had two of the worlds most influential players in sport from this country in Roy Keane and Brian O Driscoll and the amount of negativity towards them both here really is truly shocking. Call yourselves Irish !!!!
HA HA!!!!!!!!!!
Judging by your photo I don’t think you’ve got anything to laugh at !!!!