So much was said about the French test and how the home team was looking for redemption. The match on this tour with a significantly bigger redemption story though, is this weekend’s one between Ireland and South Africa.
Let’s get into this recent rivalry and see if we have a clear favourite going into this one.
This weekend’s test match lineup
Upcoming fixtures
(Match time GMT+2)
Saturday 22 November
Georgia vs Japan 14:00
Wales vs New Zealand 17:10
Ireland vs South Africa 19:40
Italy vs Chile 22:10
France vs Australia 22:10
Sunday 23 November
Scotland vs Tonga 15:40
England vs Argentina 18:10
The recent record between Ireland and South Africa
For the all conquering Springboks, their record against Ireland in recent years doesn’t make for happy reading. The Irish have won 6 of the last 10, 4 of the last 5, but let’s focus on the last four matches in particular:
November 2022: Ireland 19-16 South Africa (Dublin)
September 2023: Ireland 13-8 South Africa (Paris)
July 2024: South Africa 27-20 Ireland (Pretoria)
July 2024: South Africa 24-25 Ireland (Durban)
All close affairs, and titanic battles with not much in them. These two teams are very well suited to great test encounters. The Springboks do have an edge when it comes to sheer player quality and abilities, the Irish though balance that scale with tenacious players that are well drilled and execute on smart game plans.
The edge in results in recent times could suggest South Africa were guilty of missing some key kicks and not capitalising on clinical moments in the red zone. Along with this Ireland have a confidence against the Boks that other teams just don’t seem to have.
A well earned confidence at that too. Especially in that last test in Durban where they decided they were going to physically beat the Boks with aggression.
What does this mean going into Saturday though? Sitting at the end of the 2025 calendar have new insights developed on how this next test will go?
The evolution of the Boks
Since Ciaran Frawley broke Bok hearts with his drop kick in Durban the last time these two teams played, you feel the trajectories of these two teams have been a little different.
Ireland were unable to win the 2025 6 Nations, and questions have been asked on if their squad is evolving enough in the wake of senior players getting/moving on.
South Africa on the other hand have won back to back Rugby Championships, firmly established themselves as the world no.1 team, and have without question developed the broadest squad of players at this level. It’s a super broad view on things, but it absolutely counts going into this next clash.
The Irish on their day, in front of a passionate crowd is as difficult as a rugby test can be. The Boks though are a team that can adapt, they can change how they play, they manage situations or downright blow a team away now. Of course they are also a team that can somehow compete with 14 men, but hopefully that won’t have to be proven again in this one.
Boks to set the record straight then?
The Boks haven’t won in Dublin since 2012. It’s absolutely a record to put an end to.
This Irish team is naturally going to bring a monumental challenge to prevent this of course. On all presented info though, you feel it will just be a step too far in the end.
The Boks have a tremendous forward pack, an incredibly dynamic backline with solid kicking options, and then there is of course that bench that has gone from Bomb Squad hype, to world class finishers.
As mentioned earlier, the nature of these teams will always make for a tight contest, and the Irish will be as wily as ever on Saturday. This is the Boks’ chance to put an exclamation mark on 2025 though, and they certainly are a team that is becoming known for such things.
Rassie’s matchday 23 vs Ireland
As expected for this one, back to full strength and the return of the supremely tried and test:
1: Boan Venter
2: Malcolm Marx
3: Thomas Du Toit
4: Eben Etzebeth
5: Ruan Nortje
6: Siya Kolisi ©
7: Pieter-Steph Du Toit
8: Jasper Wiese
9: Cobus Reinach
10: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
11: Cheslin Kolbe
12: Damian De Allende
13: Jesse Kriel
14: Canan Moodie
15: Damian Willemse
Replacements:
16: Johan Grobbelaar
17: Gerhard Steenekamp
18: Wilco Louw
19: RG Snyman
20: Kwagga Smith
21: Andre Esterhuizen
22: Grant Williams
23: Manie Libbok
RG Snyman set to earn his 50th cap of the bench with Ruan Nortje entrusted with the recently cursed no.5 lock position. In the backs Canan Moodie comes in for Kurt-Lee Arendse who suffered a concussion against Italy.
The other ‘big one’ weekend
As the wheels continue to fall off for the Wallabies, and Wales dare to dream a pointless dream against the All Blacks, the other game we have to talk about is Argentina taking on England.
England, after soundly beating the All Blacks last week, have never been more confident. Naturally with that comes the usual jokes and hyperbole from all sides, but this team is finally delivering on so much previous hope.
They are currently on a 10 match win streak, and that will be hugely challenged by an Argentina team that is quietly going about their business in their own impressive fashion. In 2025 they have beaten the British and Irish Lions in Dublin, they then registered wins against the Wallabies and All Blacks in the Rugby Championship, and in recent weeks have powered past Wales and Scotland.
Ranked 6th in the world, they now get the chance to take on the high flying English as they come back to earth after the New Zealand win. Game very much on then, and a brilliant way to wrap up the rugby weekend.
Explore the Avante Festive Collection
What a rugby weekend it is all round! Which naturally gives us another great excuse to pour a few drinks and get together with our mates.
Click the link above to stock up online from the Avante range, or head on down to our local retailers here in SA before game day.