Ireland v South Africa: There will be few reminiscences of times past exchanged - like 1998, for instance - when the Ireland and South Africa meet at Clontarf CC at Castle Avenue today.
Only Shaun Pollock remains of South African XI which defeated Ireland by 63 runs when the teams last met on August 23rd, 1998, at the same venue, while there are just three Irish survivors - Kyle McCallan, then the captain, Peter Gillespie and Jason Molins, the present skipper, who led Ireland to that historic 10-wicket thrashing of Zimbabwe at Stormont last Friday.
That 1998 defeat was a good result for Ireland, almost entirely thanks to an undefeated 101 from Molins, batting at number five; of the rest, only Derek Heasley (20) and John Davy (12) reached double figures while Matt Dwyer's unbeaten nine helped Molins through to his century. But there is no doubt that last Friday's rout of Zimbabwe ranks infinitely higher, standing alongside rare Irish victories of the past, including those against the West Indies and Middlesex.
Admittedly, the Irish suffered a heavy backlash at Eglinton last Sunday, losing by eight wickets in the second game against a strengthened Zimbabwean team which showed greater resolve.
Top scorer was Peter Gillespie (51), followed by Paul Mooney (31), Dom Joyce (29), Andy White (14) and Conor Armstrong (13 not out), not forgetting the generous Zimbabwean contribution of 32 extras.
So today, Molins and his team take on another Test nation, only a far stronger one this time around, ranked only behind Australia in world terms. Expecting another Irish victory over a country of Test status can hardly be seen as anything other than mere wishful thinking, but all the same the self-confidence and resolve which national coach Adi Birrell - himself a South African - has instilled into this Ireland team must be taken into account.
Zimbabwe's revenge victory at Eglinton was clearly something of a setback; yet, last Friday's performance shows that this particular Irish combination is not short on determination and skill, allied to considerable representative experience, when you take players like Molins, Andre Botha, Jeremy Bray, Kyle McCallan and Paul Mooney into account.
Radio NEAR FM 101.6 will keep you in touch with the state of play.
IRELAND (squad): J Molins (Phoenix, capt), C Armstrong (North County), A Botha (North County), J Bray (Phoenix), P Gillespie (Strabane), D Joyce (Merrion/Dublin University), J Mooney (North County), P Mooney (North County), K McCallan (Cliftonville), G Neely (Glendermott), N O'Brien (Railway Union, W/K), A White (North Down).
SOUTH AFRICA (squad): G Smith (capt), M Boucher (W/K), P Adams, H Gibbs, J Kallis, N McKenzie, M Ntini, S Pollock, D Pretorius, J Rudolf, N Boje, A Dawson, A Hall, C Lanqeveldt, A Nel, M Van Jaarsveld, Morne Van Wick.
