'Time for talk over as Irish & Boks renew rivalry'

South Africa v Ireland first Test

Date: Saturday, 6 July Kick-off: 16:00 BST Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

Coverage: Live matter updates, lucifer study & guidance connected BBC Sport website & app

Much has changed successful nan 10 months since Ireland claimed a captivating World Cup triumph complete South Africa connected a memorable nighttime wrong nan Stade de France.

That night, arsenic unofficial Irish anthem Zombie filled nan iconic Paris venue and nan men successful greenish basked successful what seemed a important triumph, it felt for illustration history was afoot for Ireland.

Grand Slam champions and nan world's number 1 side, galore predicted that Ireland's long-awaited ascension to world champion position was specified weeks away.

Such forecasts were severely wide of nan mark, of course. After Ireland were forced to strengthen different harrowing quarter-final exit astatine nan hands of nan All Blacks, South Africa hit France, England and New Zealand to reaffirm their position arsenic rugby's ascendant world force.

It stung Ireland, and while they defended their Six Nations title earlier this year, it feels arsenic though Andy Farrell's broadside person travelled to South Africa for a two-Test bid pinch a constituent to prove.

Even astatine nan extremity of a marathon season, this dust-up betwixt nan world's apical 2 sides was ever going to beryllium blockbuster, and pinch South Africa having done their portion to stoke nan flames successful nan build-up, it promises to beryllium different engrossing section successful 1 of world rugby's fiercest rivalries.

The build-up to past year's World Cup gathering was respectful, pinch nan separator reserved for Ireland's quarter-final pinch New Zealand, who were retired to avenge their 2022 bid conclusion by Farrell's team.

But Damian de Allende and Eben Etzebeth some person attracted headlines successful caller months, pinch De Allende - formerly of Munster - predicting Saturday's opener will beryllium "almost for illustration a war".

And past week, South Africa caput coach Rassie Erasmus - whose news conferences person been refreshingly loose and entertaining - predicted Farrell's starting line-up for Saturday's opening Test pinch a station connected X (amusingly, astatine nan clip of writing, Erasmus follows conscionable 1 relationship connected that platform: nan charismatic Irish Rugby account).

He didn't spot Farrell's curve-ball coming, though, pinch nan Englishman handing Jamie Osborne a astonishment debut astatine full-back and keeping Jimmy O'Brien - Erasmus' prime - connected nan bench.

Farrell, for illustration his players earlier him, swerved an opportunity to prosecute successful nan pre-series psychological warfare, calling Erasmus' societal media station "hilarious" and "brilliant".

Farrell, a maestro astatine giving small distant successful his media dealings, prefers to do his talking connected nan pitch. Whether he has nan past word, though, will beryllium up to nan players.

It whitethorn beryllium little than a twelvemonth since nan World Cup encounter, but location has since been important unit changes successful some camps.

Jacques Nienaber, who led South Africa to nan Webb Ellis Cup arsenic caput coach, is now successful Ireland pinch Leinster. “Jacques phones maine each nighttime and tells maine everything astir Ireland," Erasmus joked past week.

Erasmus, of course, has an Irishman successful his backroom squad pinch 2009 Grand Slam victor Jerry Flannery having been installed arsenic defence coach earlier this year.

Former New Zealand fly-half Tony Brown is different high-profile summation arsenic onslaught coach, pinch South Africa's two-time World Cup victor Duane Vermeulen and erstwhile referee Jaco Peyper besides involved.

There is continuity, too. Siya Kolisi, who captained some triumphant World Cup campaigns, continues successful nan domiciled aft speculation that Erasmus would beforehand a South Africa-based subordinate (Kolisi now plays his nine rugby pinch Racing 92 successful France).

For South Africa fans, nan show of master goal-kicker Handre Pollard lining retired successful Pretoria will beryllium reassuring. With Pollard injured for nan World Cup match, which South Africa mislaid by 5 points, Manie Libbok and Faf de Klerk some missed 2 kicks disconnected nan tee.

Ireland's biggest alteration has travel connected nan pitch. With Johnny Sexton having retired aft nan World Cup, Jack Crowley has stepped into nan No.10 shirt.

Crowley impressed successful nan Six Nations and will person a acquainted look alongside him pinch Munster team-mate Craig Casey selected astatine scrum-half, while uncapped Jamie Osborne gets a immense opportunity to impressment astatine full-back.

But Ireland are shorn of immoderate important men: Hugo Keenan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen. All 3 person been cardinal cogs successful nan backline. While Farrell had been readying without Olympics-bound Keenan and nan injured Hansen, who has not played since January, news of Gibson-Park's hamstring problem was a important blow.

South Africa will beryllium buoyed by Ireland's weakened backline and are apt to target Osborne fixed his deficiency of experience, some successful nan Test arena and astatine full-back. With nan crippled astatine altitude, nan Boks will capsicum nan 22-year-old pinch nan benignant of kicks Keenan often looks truthful assured under.

It seems Farrell's manus is weakened, but nan Englishman has made a wont of getting nan astir retired of what's disposable to him.

Like nan New Zealand bid successful 2022, Ireland dream to unafraid a first bid triumph against nan Springboks connected South African soil.

Ireland person beaten nan Boks successful nan past 3 meetings, but winning successful South Africa ever requires a herculean effort. Ireland's only erstwhile avictory successful 10 attempts came successful 2016 erstwhile they produced a spirited show to triumph 26-20 contempt CJ Stander's 22nd-minute reddish card.

Indeed, South Africa are a mean portion successful beforehand of their location fans. They've won 11 of their past 13 location Tests. However, they were pushed each nan measurement by Argentina 12 months ago, edging a Rugby Championship brushwood 22-21 successful Johannesburg.

While nan triumph complete nan All Blacks 2 years agone was a three-Test series, besting nan Springboks complete nan adjacent 2 weeks will spell down arsenic different important accomplishment for Farrell 12 months retired from his debut arsenic British and Irish Lions caput coach.

It is simply a speedy return to Pretoria for Ireland's patient Leinster contingent, too. Last month, Leinster mislaid 25-20 to nan Bulls successful nan URC semi-final, confirming a 3rd consecutive trophy-less play for nan Irish side.

Confronting nan uncomfortable memories successful Loftus Versfeld - and so a partisan Pretorian crowd - is portion of nan situation arsenic they participate nan backyard of nan world's number 1 side.