November 11, 2017

Ireland vs South Africa, Rugby Union, Kick off 17:30

Denmark vs Republic of Ireland, Soccer, Kick off, 19:45.

This article, however, focuses on  the rugby international and how Ireland can overcome a newly resurgent South African side. Based on the recently elapsed Rugby Championship, the Springboks have experienced a dramatic return to form since suffering a shock defeat to Italy in the past twelve months. Although they were heavily beaten by New Zealand in their first test, shipping fifty plus points, they went on to push the All Blacks all the way in the rematch in an entertaining 25-24 defeat.

From an Irish rugby perspective, this is worrying on two accounts. First, Ireland are playing them in just under a fortnight’s time, just at the time when confidence is coming back to the Boks. Second, if we are thinking long term, the South Africans are building nicely towards the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Ireland have been handed a pool that they would be expected to win. If that is the case, then the desired option would be to play the Boks, rather than New Zealand, in the Quarter Final. If they keep this form up to the World Cup, however, South Africa would present an unsavoury challenge.

Back to the present, though, how can Ireland beat them next month? The South African have historically been, and still are, known for their bulk in both the forwards and the backrow. In Ireland’s most recent encounter with them, the Test Series in June 2016, the Men in Green simply did not have the bench, stamina or muscle to prevent the South Africans causing havoc in the forwards unit.

In the narrow defeat to the All Blacks, both South African tries were mainly the work of the South African forwards. They have excellent ball retention and presentation. It’s very hard to operate the jackal to get turnover ball because the South Africans are experts at clearing bodies out of the breakdown area.  When they get past the 22 metre line, they usually have a box of tricks to get over the line, whether that is through offloading skills or decoy runners or simple, brute force.

To read the rest of this article please follow this link: collegetribune.ie/how-ireland-can-nullify-south-africa/