Iain Henderson has vowed to ignore “highlights-reel” rugby to realise his full potential with Ireland.

Iain Henderson has vowed to ignore "highlights-reel" rugby to realise his full potential with Ireland.

If last Saturday proved a pretty humbling experience for South African rugby, it wasn’t a great week for the game’s governing body, World Rugby, either.

Ireland take one more step along the road in Dublin this evening when their credentials as one of the world’s top four teams are tested by old rivals South Africa.

If Ireland charge out of the blocks after four months of international inactivity, this callow Springbok side will struggle to cope, writes Donal Lenihan

Iain Henderson knows better than most how bad it can get if Eben Etzebeth and his Springboks start to impose themselves on a game.

South Africa scrum coach Matt Proudfoot continued where his boss left off by heaping praise on Ireland yesterday.

Killing the opposition with kindness is the oldest trick in the sports PR book but Allister Coetzee’s respect for Ireland seems genuine given the Springbok head coach has labelled Joe Schmidt’s side as the northern hemisphere’s All Blacks.

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is sure that a lack of experience in the role of head coach will not hamper Johann van Graan as he prepares to take over the reins at Munster from Rassie Erasmus.

Australia beat South Africa 23-17 in wet Brisbane to earn their first win in this year's Rugby Championship.

There’s a huge onus on Ireland’s new boys to hold the defensive line, writes Donal Lenihan.

After the sobering sight of four World Cup semi-finalists coming from the southern hemisphere, last weekend offered a glimmer of hope for European rugby. The question now is, was it an aberration or a line in the sand?

There are few more stunning backdrops to an international rugby stadium than the one that greets you on your arrival at Newlands Stadium. Nestled to the rear of the imposing, rugged features that define Table Mountain, it sets the scene perfectly for what lies ahead. This is South Africa, this is Springbok rugby.

Joe Schmidt may have made it a mission to expand Ireland’s strength in depth at Test level but it still takes little to reveal just how thin on the ground are those players who are eligible, ready and able to wear the green jersey.

South Africa 34 Scotland 16: Stand-off Duncan Weir hopes his stunning second-half burst against South Africa on Saturday will help seal his place in coach Vern Cotter’s plans as Scotland look to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

IT’S difficult to escape the feeling that Munster’s comprehensive defeat at the hands of Saracens was an accident waiting to happen, says Donal Lenihan.

Wales finally cracked the code of success against major southern hemisphere opposition as full-back Leigh Halfpenny’s relentless goalkicking saw off Millennium Stadium visitors South Africa.

There may have been heroics across the field as Ireland recorded only their fifth victory in 22 meetings with South Africa but for many the 80-minute shift put in by captain Paul O’Connell was as special as the win itself.

Paul O’Connell has revealed Joe Schmidt has challenged Ireland to bulk up for next year’s World Cup, admitting “we could be bigger and more physical”

Paul O’Connell wants Ireland to take a leaf out of the South African rugby playbook and start growing some Test match beasts.

Coach Heyneke Meyer has announced the South African team that will play Ireland in Dublin on Saturday in the first of Ireland’s Autumn rugby internationals.

New Zealand’s talismanic number 8 Kieran Read was yesterday named the IRB Player of the Year, the third Kiwi to win the prestigious award.

New Zealand have dominated the International Rugby Board awards with Kieran Read being crowned player of the year.

Argentina 17 South Africa 22

Argentina prop Juan Figallo has been cited for head-butting France captain Pascal Pape at the end of the Pumas’ 39-22 defeat in Lille on Saturday night.

AT least we were spared the usual platitudes that opposing international coaches have heaped on successive Irish teams over the years, praising our passion and commitment in defeat.

In a parallel universe somewhere, Ireland won that Test match on Saturday night and Mike McCarthy’s brutal hit on Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth just after half-time is being played on the loop on a triumphal highlights reel.

Ireland 12 South Africa 16

As he leans casually in a doorway at the South African team hotel in the Dublin suburbs, his near six feet and eight inches topped with a boyish mop of hair, the quiet presence of Eben Etzebeth appears at odds with his burgeoning reputation as the Springboks’ newest hard man.

South Africa head coach Heyneke Meyer has entrusted 22-year-old Pat Lambie with flyhalf responsibilities for Saturday’s meeting with Ireland in the Aviva Stadium (5.30pm).

A dozen years have passed since a teenage Donnacha Ryan first pulled on a green jersey but it was the reception on his return to St Munchin’s College that has left a bigger impression.

South Africa 36 England 27

South Africa 22 England 17

South Africa 57 Ireland 15

Although the Ireland Under-20s have failed to register a point in Pool C of the IRB Junior World Championship, head coach Mike Ruddock has been pleased with their performances so far.