The contrast could not be more striking. If Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, venue for the opening test, ranked as one of the most scenic and picturesque in world rugby then Ellis Park, situated in what has become the ghettoed heartland of downtown Johannesburg, was stark and foreboding, writes Donal Lenihan.

Springboks head coach Allister Coetzee has backed “bundle of energy” Faf de Klerk not to change his game as South Africa’s debutant at scrum-half against Ireland tomorrow.