Preview: Ireland vs Springboks

Preview: Ireland vs Springboks

9 Nov 2012

RYAN VREDE analyses the key match-ups and picks a winner of the year-end tour Test in Dublin.

The optimism among Ireland supporters appeared to be high when I first arrived in Dublin last Saturday, but I’ve since sensed a steady shift to something bordering pessimism, in light of injuries to key and experienced players. They still hope for an Ireland victory, of course, but there is none of the strong belief that had accompanied their ambition in recent meetings at Lansdowne Road.

Ireland have won three of the last four Tests in the city. Experienced and respected men among their media contingent predict that dominance will end, despite acknowledging the Springboks’ own struggles with injuries and their poor form in 2012. I think they’re right, although any Springbok victory will not be accompanied by glowing praise of the beauty of their performance.

The forecast is for cold but clear conditions at kick-off, which will assist the attacking play of both sides, not that either team is likely to thrill in their own territory. The Boks won’t veer from the kick-chase method when in their half, and they will look to put Ireland’s receivers under pressure with committed chasers. The hosts have consistently pointed to the importance of putting their primary punters – Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie and Zane Kirchner – under pressure. I don’t foresee them achieving this, with the Springboks’ pack likely to be dominant and in so doing buying the aforementioned players time to set themselves and pick their spots (they’ll target fullback Simon Zebo), whether that be up-and-unders or kicks into space.

Pat Lambie’s tactical game showed improvements in the Currie Cup, but the pressure of Test matches is incomparable and he’ll be under close scrutiny in this regard. Lambie will also be thrust further into the spotlight if the Springboks succeed in pressuring Ireland into penalties in kickable positions. He has kicked superbly of late and needs to replicate that form on the international stage. Certainly if Ireland find their attacking groove they are capable of punishing the Springboks for infringements, with Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara among the most accurate Test goal-kickers in 2012.

If Lambie wobbles with the boot the Springboks have problems. Statistically no team in the world has spent more time in the opposition’s 22m than they have this year, yet the return in terms of tries scored has been desperately poor. They have consistently conceded penalties or made handling errors when on attack in this zone. There needs to be a dramatic reduction in both counts. The Springboks simply have to be more clinical.

The Bok pack has fronted well in set and general play, even against the All Blacks, who are widely regarded to be the strongest eight in the game. They’ll be too good for the Irish, who’ll miss Paul O’Connell’s physicality and leadership and Sean O’Brein’s industry and potency at the breakdown. If Francois Louw can impose himself at breakdown time (off the back of a good gainline contest) it will further compound Ireland’s attacking struggles. I think he will, with Declan Kidney’s team not possessing enough high calibre strike runners to boss the tackle and render Louw a non-factor.

Expect parity at scrum time, while the tourists will boss the lineouts, where their rolling maul will be a massive weapon.

Overall, Ireland will be a fierce competitor but not one with the quality to take advantage of a significantly weakened Springbok side.

VREDE’S CALL: Springboks by 10


1,019 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 21 » Show All

  • 1.poltergeist: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 02:22 am

    Springboks by 20

  • 2.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 02:28 am

    Steady start by the Proteas

  • 3.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 02:30 am

    More than half of the team filled with Cape Cobras players.Great to see.

  • 4.Daddy: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 02:33 am

    Springboks by 12… Tautes going to have a blinder. Guaranteed.

  • 5.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 02:35 am

    Meyer will be in serious trouble if he lose against a poor Irish team.

  • 6.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 02:40 am

    Peterson looking in good nick.Aussie bowling attack looks rather on the lame side.

  • 7.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 02:50 am

    Biff on his way.29/1

  • 8.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 02:52 am

    Aussies right onto their game plan for Amla.Short balls all the way.

  • 9.kwas: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 03:22 am

    @wnbb-7: Amla is the real messiah. Not PDivvy, not Heineken Maltrap, nor Mitch the *****. Amla is the real McCoy. No short ball kuk from the Aussie poeftas will put him off his stride.

  • 10.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 03:28 am

    @kwas-9: :D . Absolutely.After bowling a few short balls at him the Aussie commentators said he was more rattled than he was in the whole of the English series.Delusional idiots the bunch of them!!

  • 11.whatever: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 03:31 am

    @wnbb-10:

    Is he getting a verbal?

  • 12.whatever: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 03:33 am

    6

  • 13.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 03:33 am

    Amla just smashed the offie for a six!!That’s rattled for you you Aussie tossers! :D

  • 14.whatever: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 03:34 am

    @wnbb-13:

    Love it :lol:

  • 15.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 03:35 am

    @whatever-11: Not yet,but they are going short to him.

  • 16.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 03:36 am

    The Indians have Sachin…but we have Hashim !! :D

  • 17.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 03:39 am

    We went into the game with no spinner.The Aussie offie getting a bit of turn already ,so that’s a bit of a worry.

  • 18.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 04:04 am

    Lunch.1/90. Good stuff Amla and Petersen.

  • 19.Jinx2: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 04:10 am

    Ireland by 5. toodles.

  • 20.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 05:02 am

    Aussies bowling a very tight line after lunch..Proteas batsmen very solid though.Good,tough test cricket.

  • 21.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 05:04 am

    Fifty for Alviro.Well played,bud.

  • 22.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 05:11 am

    Aus loses a tight review against Alviro.Gabba crowd and Aussie players pissed off !Brilliant!

  • 23.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 05:57 am

    Amla is no king kallis… But he is good

  • 24.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:01 am

    Ponting going to mess with kleingeld kleinveldt

  • 25.gunther: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:30 am

    Never par a burning dog and never cut an off spinner.

  • 26.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:37 am

    Amla looking good… No ways that he wont make a century…. No ways!!

  • 27.grant10: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:47 am

    why no Tahir?

  • 28.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:49 am

    boks gonna smash the irish

    no smiling eyes at the end of this

  • 29.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:52 am

    @grant10-27:

    Yes! A really strange decision especially winning the toss and electing to bat. If you choose an attack consisting of five fast bowlers you would tend to think that winning the toss and batting would be the way to go, especially that the most assistance is on the first morning of the test. I have also heard from one of the guys that Tahir is going to be watched for running on the pitch and could be called. Maybe they decided that Duminy could do the job for this test. Let’s wait and see…

  • 30.papaown: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:52 am

    Hougaard has had a shocking couple of weeks in rugby, esp. in Semi final Currie Cup.

    We really need to work on his mental side before he starts for the Boks again

  • 31.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:53 am

    @papaown-30:

    Well he is starting. Lack of form is only applicable to certain players. Didn’t you know that?

  • 32.papaown: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:55 am

    In general we shouldn’t be soo quick to blame a loss on 1 players selection, or non-selection, (unless that player is MS :-D ) but our teams would be soo much stronger with 1 or 2 obvious selection changes

  • 33.papaown: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:56 am

    @Gumboots-31: Come off it!

    Which players are you talking about

  • 34.gunther: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:57 am

    @grant10-27:

    The word is that kallis may not be 100%

  • 35.Delki: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 06:58 am

    @28 Bakkies don’t be toooooooo confident. Your JOKERS have lost NINE EOYT tests since 2002. Could easily happen again.

    By the way during the same period the All Blacks have lost no EOYT tests, none at all……………….

  • 36.gunther: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:01 am

    When was the last time we won all of our EOYT games?

  • 37.gunther: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:03 am

    Kallis throws it away.

  • 38.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:04 am

    No Ball haha what luck

  • 39.gunther: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:04 am

    No ball.

    Hahahaha.

    Make them pay.

  • 40.gunther: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:05 am

    Convicts getting tetchy.

  • 41.BokkeYouBeauties: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:07 am

    Morne’ will come on as a brilliant impact player ..for the Irish

  • 42.papaown: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:13 am

    If it wasn’t for his track record and his utterancesin the media, I would take HM @ face value and take it that he will give Jantjies a chance against Scotland to start and make a decision later about the England game.

    But he has consistently labelled him a youngster, dunno what that makes Lambie and Goosed, left him on the bench till 3 minutes to go in a test (Disgraceful), yet stated in England test he didn’t want to throw him to the Wolves (when MS was having a clear shocker).

    He just clearly doesn’t have faith in the kid and should stop wasting every1′s time, just like KD

  • 43.papaown: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:16 am

    Just reading through the other thread I think its interesting how we all jump on the racist or non-racist band wagon quickly.

    This was all started by Mantashe and I read through his comments, he did not label HM a racist. He did say he is reluctant to play/start POC… Which is very true. Its as clear as day so why the need for labelling and defensive kraal mindset?

  • 44.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:21 am

    @Delki-35:
    teams and squad’s a lot more settled now, with losses already accrued some of the pressure’s off and the irish are short on quality game makers and breakers.

    boks will look to target this game for a statememt of inttent and finish hard against the english, only likely surprise imo will come from the scots.

  • 45.grant10: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:22 am

    @Gumboots-29:thanks Gumboots…

  • 46.grant10: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:24 am

    @gunther-34: ok….so he wont bowl much? I would have thought that would of meant even more reason to choose Tahir? But I am no expert…

  • 47.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:26 am

    All Blacks by 60…… oh thats right, its already happened :-)

  • 48.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:27 am

    @wnbb-2: Yup the “Zen Master” and the “Robot” not bothered by the pathetic attempt at ‘psycological warfare” by the woblies.

  • 49.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:28 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-44:
    Some of the pressure is off??
    I think there is even more pressure than before.
    Boks have to win all 3 or it is a fail. And lets face it, the Boks have not set the world on fire in the last 2-3 years

  • 50.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2012, 07:29 am

    @papaown-43:

    I don’t think he is a racist, I just think he favours blue players… ;) Jantjes has half a game and dropped out of match 23… Morne is continously poor and is kept in match team… Hougie has been very poor but is kept because HM knows what he can do… Pleeeeezzzzz

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 21 » Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.