All the action as it happens from Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria as Andy Farrell’s side plays the first match of a two-game tour
As for Ireland, they have opted to blood some inexperienced players. Well, it likely has been forced upon them given Jamison Gibson-Park’s injury and Hugo Keenan’s decisions to play Sevens at the OIympics.
Craig Casey starts at nine while, in what was a major shock, Jamie Osborne is given an international debut at fullback despite not having played a professional game there since 2022. He impressed for Leinster this season, but at centre, not in the backthree. Farrell has been an Osborne fan for some time and has taken this opportunity to get him into the team given Keenan’s absence.
After months of build-up and verbal grenades thrown predominantly from the South African camp, the rugby is finally upon us. South Africa haven’t beaten Ireland since 2016, which, one would suspect, is the source of at least some of the animosity. You can tell just how badly the Springboks want to win this series by looking at the team they have selected.
Historically, Rassie Erasmus has used games after World Cups to scope out his next raft of talented, large men. This time around, that isn’t the case. All of the starting XV are World Cup winners. Of the entire 23 players selected, 20 were involved in France last year. The notable inclusions are that of Kwagga Smith at number eight - he replaces the now retired Duane Vermeulen from the World Cup final - and Wille le Roux. He is at fullback in place of Damian Willemse. Le Roux’s kicking masterclass was a big reason why the Bulls recently beat Leinster at this venue in the URC semi-finals, a game which could well have influenced selection here.
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