The November Internationals are about to start and we cannot wait to see the world’s top Southern teams take on the pride of the North. Our pick for the game of the weekend must be South Africa taking on Ireland, the World Cup holders taking on the current world number 1 team.
Ireland are the bookies favourites against the Boks
The entire population of the country of Ireland is just over 5 million people, which makes their position as the number one ranked Men’s rugby nation in the world even more impressive.
Off the back of a first-ever series win against the All Blacks and an outstanding 6 Nations campaign, the Irish host a somewhat unpredictable Springbok side in Dublin, where South Africa haven’t won a test match since 2012. The last time the two teams faced each other in the Emerald Isle was in November 2017 and Ireland thrashed the Boks 38-3 – a record win for the men in green. But just two years later the Springboks won the 2019 World Cup with arguably the most dominant display from a World Cup winning side in the professional era of the game and Ireland, in true Irish fashion. crashed out in the Quarter Final stage after getting hammered 46-14 by the All Blacks.
So, that begs the question: are Ireland as hot as we think they are? Do they have the gas to trounce a Southern hemisphere titan like the Springboks or are they only as good as their Northern hemisphere counterparts allow them to be? The bookies think that they’re strong enough – Ireland are favourites to beat the Boks on Saturday by just a smidge, even though they are yet to release their line-up for the game.
Boks still worth a bet
The Boks announced their line-up on Wednesday and there are certainly some talking points that have arisen as a result.
Cheslin Kolbe returns to the team for his first appearance since breaking his jaw against Wales in July. The World Cup winning phenom will be donning the number 15 jersey for the first time since he played for the Baby Boks in the 2013 u20 World Cup. His back three compadrés will be young hotshot Kurt-Lee
Arendse who impressed massively earlier on this year before getting suspended for a mid-air collision, and Mr. Dependable On Attack Makazole Mapimpi.
A back three as dynamic and electric as these lads could be the difference in a game that is likely to be fought by the forwards. If they’re given a sniff, or even the tiniest bit of space, they’re likely to punish the Irish who aren’t necessarily used to a trio of hot-stepping, hard-to-catch athletes such as these.
Manie Libbok will have to wait to get his first test call-up as the number 10 jersey goes to Damian Willemse, who’s been impressive of late but is yet to completely live up to his billing as one of world rugby’s finest young players. Since joining the Boks in 2019, Willemse has played at 10, 12, 14 and 15 – but played most of his breakthrough rugby at flyhalf. On Saturday he’ll be tested to his limit by Irish icon Jonny Sexton who will be running out for his 111th test in green.
Willemse will be joined in midfield by Damian De Alllende who has absolutely silenced the haters and made the 12 jersey his own since the end of 2018.
One of my biggest concerns in the backline is Jesse Kriel. Sure, it’s arguable that nobody in the world is a suitable enough replacement for Lukhanyo Am at outside centre, but Kriel has a knack of disappearing whenever he plays for the Boks. I’m assuming he’ll be lining up against either Robbie Henshaw or Gary Ringrose who have over 100 caps between the two of them. What Am does so well is exactly what Kriel doesn’t. He marshals the backline and organises the Bok defence with poise, grace and dominance – where Kriel is known to miss a tackle, drift and open up gaps. No doubt Andy Farrell will be targeting Kriel at 13 and getting Henshaw, Hansen, Ringrose and potentially Stockdale revved up to run directly down Kriel’s channel.
Which pack do you back?
South Africa have been saved by their front row on more than one occasion over the last couple of years. Whichever combination gets picked is used to dominating the scrum and winning loads of front-foot ball for the backs. This weekend’s edition of the Bok Big Boys sees Malherbe, Marx and Kitshoff starting in front, with Mbonambi, Nche and Koch supporting from the bench. All of them adept rugby players, all of them big scrummagers. But if there’s another front row in World Rugby worth betting on, it’s the Irish. Sheehan, Furlong, Porter, Herring, Bealham and Healey are all large lads who absolutely love getting stuck in at scrum time and in open play. You might argue that they move around the park better than the Bok front row does, which means our loose forwards and Marx/Mbonambi will have to be even stronger at the breakdown against a mobile front row that gets to rucks with more efficiency than most.
In the second and back rows, Ryan, van der Flier, Doris, Beirne and O’Mahony are all proper hard-men with skills to boot, whilst Etzebeth, de Jager and du Toit are amongst the best in their position on their day. Jasper Wiese starts at the back of the scrum with captain Kolisi occupying the blindside flanker role.
We’ve seen glimpses of Kolisi at his best against Argentina and New Zealand but we’ll need to see him step up even more against a dynamic and tough Irish back row. Wiese is a machine in the Premiership but is yet to properly announce himself on the international stage and, considering his opposite number is the ever-impressive Caelan Doris, he will really need to be on form. It looks like Duane Vermeulen’s time is up, so there’s no better time for Wiese to show his mettle and put some Irishmen on their backs this weekend.
All to play for at the Aviva
If it’s not clear yet that it’s going to be a tightly contested, hopefully electric game of test rugby, then I’m not sure what else to say. Players from both teams will be going into this clash fighting for their plane tickets to the World Cup next year which adds another layer of intensity. The Springbok side that hoisted the Webb-Ellis in 2019 is startlingly similar to the team running out on Saturday. Does that mean Springbok rugby has gotten too comfortable or are the 17 players that featured in that World Cup winning side still amongst the best in the business? Only the Irish will be able to answer that for us on Saturday. Their mix of youth and experience is exciting. They’ve accomplished things that no other Irish side has accomplished before – but are they worth betting on?
It pains me to say this, but yes.
A bet on Ireland to win on Saturday is a safe bet. If I had to predict the score line – I have Ireland edging the Springboks 24-18. However, if the Boks win I think they’ll win handsomely. This game will either be a Bok blowout or a slim Irish victory. If I change my mind and choose to bet on the Boks, I’d place a wager on an Arendse brace and Kolbe to score, with Marx scoring two off rolling mauls. Has this article been helpful or confusing? For me, it’s been a bit of both – and such is the nature of the game we’re going to be treated to on Saturday evening.