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Ireland v South Africa Virgin media 17:30

[Deleted User]

Background

In the last 10 years we've lost away to South Africa 4 times and lost at home twice.

We have won away once and won at home 5 times, indicating a general level of competitiveness against the Saffers for longer than we've been a top tier team in World rugby. Our last game against South Africa was the 2017 dismantling at home where we won 38 - 3 (match posted below).

South Africa are on a decent run of form having won 3 in a row against Argentina and Australia. Prior to that they had shipped a loss to Australia and a loss to NZ (having beaten NZ once following the Summer tours).

The Wales tour to South Africa was a poor period for them. I don't particularly rate Wales but the Saffer's struggled to deal with them giving Wales a rare away win.

Ireland have a tour win in New Zealand under our belts, and a good six nations losing only to France.

Teams

Prediction

The importance of this fixture given the shared World Cup pool between South Africa and Ireland shouldn't be discounted. This is a stare down.

South Africa look a slightly stronger team on paper, are on form and have a run of fixtures coming into todays game. I think their game plan is easier to implement or should I say impose and I expect them to be 100% on it today.

From an Irish perspective I'm worried about our back 5 and whether we can weather that South African pack for 50 minutes and that impressive bench in the closing 30.

I'm concerned about the breakdown generally, but more so with the lack of zip at 9 that has been central to our success the last year.

I think Murray's inclusion is a nod to the success of Wales aerial game against South Africa - much to the chagrin of some I think we'll see a lot of kicking from Ireland. Again - the lack of game time from the likes of Keenan puts this into gamble territory if it proves true.

I think South Africa have the advantage coming into the game, but I can't shake the feeling Ireland will have enough for them today and might even make a show of it.

2017 Game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cllbn0-4XdE&ab_channel=IrishRugbyTV

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Comments

testtech05

McCloskey had started the game very well

Faugheen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119837774#Comment_119837774

The only people who find it a 'laughable' exercise are those who have racial tendencies, in my opinion.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119837856#Comment_119837856

Appalling.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119837716#Comment_119837716

The match jersey vs the South African one doesn’t lend to an easy watch…rucks, mauls or any play where a few bodies are in close proximity competing.

tip tackle ?

Clegg

Utterly ludicrous pass from Sexton

fitz

That's so dangerous

Burkie1203

Red card

Clegg

That's a yellow for Kolbe. Lift and drive on Hansen.

ongarite

Won't be a red, yellow card

Larbre34

Red for 15 surely.

Probably should be yellow for 7 but it wont be.

SaoPaulo41

Has to be red

[Deleted User]

Yeah going to be a card. Hand down first but driven, could be a red here.

VeryOwl

The commentary on premier sports is testing my will to live.

Cypher_sounds

Two reds?

Faugheen

That's a red for Kolbe. Has to be.

Burkie1203

That's red. Sorry but kolbe drives him downwards

SaoPaulo41

Touch judges were trying to tell him red

JRant

Got lucky there. Very definition of a spear tackle.

[Deleted User]

Lucky lucky South Africa

testtech05

In some ways maybe lucky enough there to get away with yellow

Clegg

On replay, I actually think Hansen landed on his head. Not sure what the referee saw to say he landed on his back.

fitz

Bottle call, that's a red...he absolutely drove him down.

Shehal

Probably the best result as Ireland seem to really struggle playing against 14 players.

VinLieger

Absolutely should be a red

y0ssar1an22

thought that should have been a red

jammiedodgers

Should have been a red and a yellow. Refs cop out as usual

ednwireland

thats deliberate from kolbe he readjusted his grip to drive him over red all day long

Faugheen

The whole bollocks of 'reds ruining games' is completely taking over everything here.

The need to use slow motion cameras to try and find some tiny excuse to mitigate foul play down is taking the piss now.

Larbre34

Ireland need to make SA suffer for that injustice.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119837880#Comment_119837880

Yes, the driving action….

but the commentary from the ref from the initial viewpoint suggests he was angling not to ‘want’ to issue a red. Talking over the touch judge quite aggressively. Bogey.