Ireland, the primary ranked workforce within the world, tackle South Africa the World Cup holders in what must be an epic Autumn worldwide Test on Saturday at Lansdowne Road.
FILE: Ireland’s gamers rejoice their victory through the third rugby Test match between New Zealand and Ireland at Sky Stadium in Wellington on 16 July 2022. Picture: Marty MELVILLE/AFP
DUBLIN – Ireland, the primary ranked workforce within the world, tackle South Africa the World Cup holders in what must be an epic Autumn worldwide Test on Saturday at Lansdowne Road.
Adding spice to an already intriguing encounter in Dublin is the truth that they’re each in the identical pool on the Rugby World Cup which is lower than a 12 months away.
AFP Sports picks out three issues which might show pivotal on Saturday:
SEXTON VS WILLEMSE – THE SORCERER AND THE APPRENTICE
The battle at fly-half shall be a fascinating tussle between Ireland’s iconic playmaker Johnny Sexton and the utility again Damian Willemse.
The 24-year-old Springbok is 13 years youthful than Sexton, however the Irish captain has over 100 caps at fly-half while Willemse can rely the variety of occasions he has performed within the place at Test degree on one hand.
Willemse has been referred to as upon due to World Cup successful fly-half Handre Pollard being injured and Elton Jantjes is missing in sport time and battling private issues.
Willemse definitely caught the attention along with his performances at fly-half in away wins over Australia and Argentina within the Rugby Championship.
Sexton is no person’s idiot and in contrast to many, whose eyebrows had been raised over Willemse’s choice in such a pivotal position, he sees no cause why he can not shine.
“He’s unpredictable,” stated Sexton on Tuesday.
“He’s got fantastic footwork, he has a good kicking game, he’s strong, he’s fast obviously.
“Some traits that you simply would not usually affiliate with a 10 however he is a superb participant.”
THE ERASMUS FACTOR
This will be the first match Springbok Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus can attend since his ban from attending Test matches for making disparaging remarks about the referee in the first Test with the British & Irish Lions last year came to an end.
Whilst he side-stepped an invitation to open up about what he had learned from the ban on Wednesday — save a regretful “as the fellows received on the bus to go to the match I went again to my lodge room” — he made no secret of his enthusiasm for being back.
It is the changing room where he could make a huge difference with a pre-match tub-thumping speech. Fiery, where head coach Jacques Nienaber is more mild-mannered, the charismatic former backrow forward can add that extra bit of fire in the bellies of the players.
The Irish need no reminder of what his speeches are like. Erasmus referred to them as “softies” compared to the Welsh in a pre-World Cup semi-final speech against Wales — the Springboks won the match.
Erasmus believes the Irish have a harder edge about them now under Andy Farrell but he will hope his rhetoric gives his players the cutting edge and a perfect 50th birthday present.
MURRAY’S SECOND COMING
“This is known as dwelling correctly, there isn’t a higher time to be an Irish rugby participant,” said Andy Farrell.
Coming off a historic series win in New Zealand against the All Blacks and facing the world champions few would argue with the Ireland head coach and former English rugby league superstar.
No one more so than Conor Murray.
The 33-year-old has watched from the bench as Jamison Gibson-Park has lifted the mantle of first choice scrum-half from his shoulders after over a decade.
In that time he formed one of the most feared half-back Test partnerships with Johnny Sexton.
However, on Saturday the Munster stalwart will lead the team out onto the pitch as he wins his 100th cap.
The eighth Irishman to reach the 100 caps milestone Murray gets his chance to prove he deserves to be number one again as Gibson-Park has not played since the series-clinching Test win over the All Blacks.
Gibson-Park, though, is on the bench.
“He is a powerful previous character and he’s steely sturdy mentally,” said Farrell of Murray.
Farrell admitted he had had a “couple of conversations” with Murray once Gibson-Park became a regular starter.
However, he denied once Gibson-Park had some playing time under his belt he would be back as first choice.
“In regard to Jamison taking on, that is by no means the case with anybody.”