When last did the Springboks beat Ireland?

For the Springboks, this Saturday’s clash against Ireland holds heightened importance. It’s not just another rugby match, but a point of pride after the team from the northern hemisphere have consistently got the better of South Africa in recent times.

In fact, Ireland are on a noteworthy three-match winning streak against the Springboks, which began with a stunning 38-3 triumph in Dublin in 2017. The two teams next faced each other in 2022, with the Irish edging that encounter 19-16.

Then came the blockbuster World Cup pool game last year, which also saw Ireland come up trumps in another closely-fought affair, with the 13-8 victory establishing them as something of a hoodoo team for the Springboks.

So, as the World Cup and Six Nations champions prepare to face off this Saturday, there is so much riding on the outcome. The clash kicks off at 17:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Can the Springboks beat Ireland for the first time since 2016?

Springbok stalwart Pollard brushed aside the hype surrounding the fact that the match will see the world champions being pitted a team that has been rated in some circles as the best team on the planet.

“We don’t see things that way,” he said. “For us, this is a Test match, and we are a proud nation that wants to represent the country with pride, and we certainly want to protect our home turf.

“The confidence in the group is good and we’ve prepared well. As a team we are not driven by what happened between the teams in the past, although obviously we’d like to change that. But our focus this weekend is on the task at hand.”

Meanwhile, Cheslin Kolbe has emphasised the importance of accuracy in their execution and said the team had to be physical and enjoy the occasion as they go in search of their first victory against Ireland since 2016 (when the Springboks claimed a 19-13 win at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium).

“Looking back, there were a lot of learnings we could take from the last match we played against them,” said Kolbe, who scored the Boks’ only try in the Paris pool clash.

“It brought us back down to earth during the World Cup. But that’s history. Our focus is now on this weekend’s game. There are a few other players getting an opportunity, and as a team we want to bring the physicality, back ourselves, and enjoy the occasion.”

All to play for

Rassie Erasmus is expecting a physical onslaught from the visitors in front of a sold-out Loftus Versfeld crowd, and said it would be a full-out battle for 80 minutes.

“Ireland have had the upper hand over us in the last few years and they will certainly want to build on that on Saturday,” said Erasmus. “That said, we have a good idea of what to expect from them, especially after the World Cup last year.

“They have a few new players in their ranks this year, but so do we and that contributes to the excitement for the match. They are a physical team that never give up, but the margins between the teams are fairly small, so it’s going to be an intense battle and one that will require a resolute performance for the full 80 minutes.”