The third of the Big Test matches this weekend is in Cape Town South Africa where the Springboks host Ireland.
This is the first of three Tests between the nations this month and is the first time the Springboks will be playing since the world cup and their first match under new coach Allister Coetzee.
The last time these two teams met was in 2014 in Dublin and Ireland earned a comfortable 29-15 victory over South Africa.
Since then both of these teams have a very new look about them as both have had big name retirements.
Ireland had a very disappointing Rugby World Cup and this year went from being Six nations champions to finishing in third place. They have had some key players retire so they are still in a rebuilding phase and looking for their next super stars.
Injuries have also hurt Ireland as Johnny Sexton missed the tour while Rob Kearney and Simon Zebo are also injured. As a result Paddy Jackson come into the starting line up and Jared Payne starts for the first time at fullback.
At inside centre Luke Marshall gets his first start in the Ireland jersey for two years. Some of coach Joe Schmidt’s selections have an experimental feel to them.
The Springboks have a new look about them but there is still a core of players with Test experience. Faf de Klerk gets his first Test start and he is the only uncapped player in the starting team. There are however six players who did not go to the World Cup.
The Lions quintet of De Klerk, Jantjies, Warren Whiteley, Julian Redelinghuys and Lionel Mapoe, will earn his first start for the Boks, as well as Stormers hooker Bongi Mbonambi who is uncapped as well but on the bench.
The Springboks will have plenty of physical power which Ireland will expect. What they don’t know is what game plan the Springboks will have under the new coach. According to reports the game will be quick and expansive and since Ireland are still developing they will struggle to match their hosts.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ (Sky), Aus (Fox Sports), SA (SuperSport) and in the UK on Sky Sports.
Average score: South Africa 20 Ireland 13
Last five results
Sat, 08 Nov 2014 South Africa v Ireland 15-29 Lansdowne Rd, Dublin
Sat, 10 Nov 2012 South Africa v Ireland 16-12 Lansdowne Rd, Dublin
Sat, 06 Nov 2010 South Africa v Ireland 23-21 Lansdowne Rd, Dublin
Sat, 28 Nov 2009 South Africa v Ireland 10-15 Croke Park, Dublin
Sat, 11 Nov 2006 South Africa v Ireland 15-32 ansdowne Rd, Dublin
South Africa overall record against Ireland
Played 22 , Wins 16 , Losses 5, Draws 1
Date : Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Venue : Newlands, Cape Town
Kick Off local: 17:00
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Ref 1:Angus Gardner (Australia),
Assistant Ref 2:Matthew Carley (England)
TMO : TBA
Teams
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Jesse Kriel
Ireland
15 Jared Payne, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Jack McGrath
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Finlay Bealham, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Craig Gilroy
