Scrum coach John Fogarty and flyhalf Jack Crowley said Ireland will front up to the formidable pack and innovation of the Springboks when the teams clash on Saturday.
The top-ranked Ireland will face the defending world champions at the Stade de France, in a World Cup Pool B clash that will be decisive for both teams’ quarter-final ambitions.
South Africa’s ‘Nuke Squad’ on the bench for the clash has raised eyebrows in the rugby world, yet it’s no secret that Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber aim to physically batter the Irish into submission by deploying seven fresh forwards.
The Boks are also blessed with a bevy of game-breakers in the backline like Cheslin Kolbe, Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Manie Libbok, who, given a sniff, can rip defences to shreds.
However, Fogarty and Crowley can’t wait for one of the biggest match-ups in the World Cup thus far.
Asked on Tuesday about the competition and mood in training ahead of this weekend’s Test in Saint-Denis, Fogarty told reporters: “There’s definitely an edge, it’s an incredibly exciting week to be involved in. Everybody wants to be in the starting XV.
“To be playing the world champions in Paris … there’s a tendency sometimes to want to get to the end of the week quickly, but [it’s] was about understanding the plan, how we’re going to impose our game on South Africa. Games faces are on.”
On if Ireland are concerned about the new-look Bok bench, which helped the South Africans maul the All Blacks in London on 25 August, Fogarty added: “As a group of forwards, we’re incredibly fit and powerful, we’ve prepared for the weekend. It’s going to be a battle, one we feel the players will be ready for.”
Crowley, who is pushing Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton for the No 10 jersey, added: “A world-class side like them, their front five is massive, scrum and maul.
“[Also] the pace and footwork they have out wide and the passing and kicking ability we’ve seen it coming up against them in the URC and all the other provinces, you can see the quality they have in the backline in terms of skills individually so that’s going to be a challenge in one way and also a bonus for them.”
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