Gordon D'Arcy has warned Springbok bruiser Jean de Villiers there will be no way through Ireland's midfield on Saturday. De Villiers will line up opposite D'Arcy at Lansdowne Road after being selected in a new-look South African midfield alongside Bryan Habana.
At 6ft 2in and 15 stone the 25-year-old is an imposing physical presence that the Springboks will use as a battering ram - but D'Arcy has vowed Ireland's midfield will not be breached.
"De Villiers is a lot bigger than I am, which isn't hard," said the Leinster centre, who concedes almost a stone in weight and four inches in height.
"He was a big force during the Tri-Nations. He's a strong, dynamic runner who is very direct. South Africa use him to make ground in the middle.
"But I had some good preparation for him by facing Edinburgh's Rob Dewey in for Leinster in our last Heineken Cup match. He's a big guy as well so they are similar opponents.
"I'll do my homework on de Villiers and try and look for a few chinks in the armour.
"I'll work with the back row in containing him. We don't generally get beaten through the middle and that's something we're keen to keep intact."
South Africa coach Jake White has rested a host of senior players for the tour, putting Ireland in the unusual position of being marginal favourites for Saturday's showdown.
But the Triple Crown holders will be seeking only their third victory over the Springboks in 18 attempts and Leinster centre D'Arcy is unmoved by suggestions they are there for taking.
"South Africa won their last two games against Australia and New Zealand in the Tri-Nations so you don't have to be a rugby fanatic to know they'll be a big challenge," he said.
"There's been a lot of talk about them bringing a weakened team with them but you never play a bad side from South Africa.
"You might get them on a bad day but for as long as I've been watching rugby I've never seen a bad South African team."
Australia lie in wait after the South Africa encounter and D'Arcy knows both Tri-Nations heavyweights must be dispatched if Ireland are to begin realising their potential.
"You don't need too much motivation to be playing one of the top three sides in the world. After the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia we know we're there or thereabouts," he said.
"A phrase Brian O'Driscoll has used over the years is we don't want to be a nearly team. We want to move onto the next level and to do that we need to be beating teams like South Africa and Australia regularly."
