South Africa vs Ireland Preview & Prediction | 2024 Summer Internationals
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Another quality match lies in store as South Africa look to follow up their first Test win with another victory in Durban against the Irish
START DATE/TIME: Saturday 13th July, 2024, UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Action / US – the match will be streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – SkyGo app / US – the match will be streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
SOUTH AFRICA FORM: WORLD CHAMPIONS CONTINUE FINE FORM
The Springboks started where they left off last week as they did not look to have lost a step following their World Cup triumph last November. The 27-20 win will have given them a confidence boost especially given that was their first match since the winter unlike the Irish who have had a Six Nations campaign in between. They will look to improve further with a match under their belts.
LAST FIVE: WWWWW
IRELAND FORM: IRISH LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK FROM FIRST LOSS TO SPRINGBOKS SINCE 2016
Ireland will have been somewhere heartened from the loss last week but they know they can expect the hosts to improve, so they will have to raise their performance a couple of notches if they are to win here.
LAST FIVE: LWLWW
SOUTH AFRICA TEAM NEWS: SAME AGAIN FOR WORLD CHAMPIONS
It is same again for South Africa as the world champions have named the same starting line-up and list of replacements for this second Test with Ireland. Siya Kolisi captains the side again while Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende will set a new record for playing most Tests together at centre in what will be their 30th appearance lining up together.
SQUAD:
W le Roux; C Kolbe; J Kriel, D de Allende; KL Arendse; H Pollard; F de Klerk; O Nche, B Mbonambi, F Malherbe; E Etzebeth, F Mostert; S Kolisi (capt), PS du Toit, K Smith
REPLACEMENTS:
M Marx, G Steenekamp, V Koch, S Moerat, RG Snyman, M van Staden, G Williams, S Feinberg-Mngomezulu
IRELAND TEAM NEWS: SKIPPER DROPPED AND TWO ENFORCED CHANGES FOR IRISH
Not only did Ireland suffer defeat last weekend, they also lost two important players to injury as hooker Dan Sheehan and scrum-half Craig Casey both picked up issues that will rule them out here. Jamie Osborne and Robbie Henshaw both had to be replaced in the first Test but have trained this week and should be fit to play.
Coach Andy Farrell has also made the decision to drop skipper Peter O’Mahony to the bench and number eight Caelan Doris has been handed the honour. Tadhg Beirne moves into O’Mahony’s position and James Ryan comes into the second row.
SQUAD:
Osborne; Nash, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Crowley, Murray; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong; McCarthy, Ryan; Beirne, Van der Flier, Doris (capt)
REPLACEMENTS:
Herring, Healy, Bealham, Baird, O'Mahony, Blade, Frawley, McCloskey
SOUTH AFRICA VS IRELAND PREDICTION
Continuity is key for the Springboks and an unchanged team is just what Rassie Erasmus is going with. That does not bode well for Ireland who have to somehow close the gap while handle a couple of injuries. Andy Farrell is also making a statement by changing his captain too and it will need something radical if they are to reverse last week’s loss. The Irish always compete against all teams but it is hard to see them winning this one. The home side will improve, defensively at least, and a double-digit win could be on the cards for the hosts in Durban.
SOUTH AFRICA VS IRELAND TIP: SOUTH AFRICA TO WIN 9+ POINTS
