Heyneke Meyer may be in the minority when it comes to assessing the merits of bronze finals at the Rugby World Cup.

Where once the second rows were an odd couple of beanpole and bruiser, now they’re amongst the game’s elite - Retallick, O’Connell, Matfield. And their impact on the World Cup will be considerable, says an original of the species

To qualify for selection on Donal Lenihan’s best ever World Cup XV, the players had to have at least one winner’s medal in the pocket

Sam Warburton says he does not feel any sense of surprise after Wales finally ended their southern hemisphere hoodoo.

Joe Schmidt has admitted he cannot fathom the debt Ireland owe lock Paul O’Connell for continuing to clatter his body through Test skirmishes.

Victor Matfield has challenged South Africa to heed their World Cup “wake-up call” after a 29-15 defeat in Ireland.

When South Africa captain Jean de Villiers lines up against Ireland today, he will have almost 100 caps and 12 years of experience on his direct opponents.

The visitors hold all the aces in terms of recent form, preparation, settled combinations and the confidence that stems from beating New Zealand last time out.

South African veteran Victor Matfield has his World Cup winners’ medal from 2007 but insists winning another next October at Twickenham is still top of his priority list as the Springboks head into their northern hemisphere tour opener against Ireland this Saturday.

A genuine treat awaits. Notwithstanding the fact New Zealand will be giving Dublin a skip this month, some of rugby’s standout performers are coming to town in November, writes Donal Lenihan.

Springboks talisman Victor Matfield has hailed Ireland captain Paul O’Connell as “the best player I’ve played against”.

South Africa 38 Wales 16

South Africa 9 Australia 11

SOUTH AFRICA head coach Peter de Villiers believes his side are ready for the World Cup knockout phase after advancing from Pool D with a 100% record following a bruising win over Samoa at North Harbour Stadium.

Bryan Habana and Victor Matfield have been ruled out of South Africa’s World Cup clash against Fiji in Wellington on Saturday.

South Africa are set to be without lock Victor Matfield and centre Jean de Villiers for their second World Cup Pool D match with Fiji on Saturday, the defending champions have said.

SOUTH AFRICA hope that a turbulent week, which began with two players being sent home for failing drugs tests, will end with their Grand Slam mission three-quarters complete later today.

Wales 25 South Africa 29

IRELAND debutant Devin Toner has been backed to successfully lead his country’s lineout out of the abyss into which it sank last weekend when Samoa come to the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

A MUTED atmosphere from a predictably disappointing crowd and a sixth defeat in succession for the national side was hardly the homecoming the bigwigs at the IRFU would have imagined for the first rugby international at the Aviva Stadium.

THE sight of South African props falling to their knees in relief and their team-mates raising arms to the stars in triumph at the final whistle spoke volumes about how much victory over Ireland meant to an under-fire Springboks camp.

DONNCHA O’CALLAGHAN insists the ticket turmoil and empty seats that greeted Ireland on a historic day at the Aviva Stadium will not be used as an excuse for Saturday’s defeat tostruggling South Africa.

EVEN Max Clifford would struggle to put a positive spin on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium.

Victor Matfield believes South Africa’s character enabled them to take the first step towards redemption following an abysmal Tri-Nations.

Victorious South Africa captain Victor Matfield cited the absence of Paul O’Connell as a crucial factor in his team’s victory over Ireland yesterday.

Ireland 21 South Africa 23

PERHAPS we are getting a little carried away. Seven days ago Australia and New Zealand showed the way forward for rugby with an exhilarating display of expansive rugby that had fans and pundits alike drooling.

SOUTH AFRICA captain Victor Matfield has primed Irish rugby fans for a backlash after hearing his side dismissed as a threat for this evening’s opening autumn international at the Aviva Stadium (5.30pm).

Mick O’Driscoll is unfazed by the challenge of containing the most feared second row partnership in Test rugby at Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

SOUTH AFRICA captain Victor Matfield will take comfort in familiarity if not experience when he leads the world champions out to take on Ireland at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (5.30pm).

IRELAND are refusing to buy into the theory that tomorrow’s Test opponents South Africa are out of form and in the depths of despair.

IT doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Ireland’s second row buddies Mick O’Driscoll and Donncha O’Callaghan face a huge examination of character in tomorrow’s Guinness Test clash with South Africa at the Aviva Stadium.

Victor Matfield admits the recent spate of injuries that has struck South Africa is far from ideal, but is adamant the squad has enough depth to overcome Ireland.

STEPHEN FERRIS might not know his een, twee, dries (one, two, three) from his elbow, but he does not need a working knowledge of Afrikaans to identify a good Springbok side when he sees one.

South Africa 44 Australia 31

South Africa lock Victor Matfield has again reiterated his intentions to quit rugby after next year’s World Cup as he prepares for his 100th game in a Springbok jersey.

Australia’s Dean Mumm has heaped praise on fellow lock Victor Matfield, a player who is set to earn his 100th Test cap for South Africa on Saturday.

IN-FORM Australia fly-half Quade Cooper has been suspended for two weeks after being cited for a dangerous tackle during Australia’s Tri Nations Test 30-13 win against South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA lock Victor Matfield was yesterday despairing at the way Irish referees Alan Lewis and Alain Rolland have policed the breakdown, following his side’s second successive Tri Nations defeat to New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.

WHILE the Super 14 is more commonly associated with dazzling backs and fingertip handling, it’s the forward-oriented pursuit of the lineout that is the primary focus at international level as the 2010 Tri Nations hovers into view.

VICTOR MATFIELD anticipates a tight tussle when South Africa meet Italy in the first game of a two-Test series at the Puma Stadium in Witbank today.

SOUTH AFRICA vice-captain Victor Matfield has warned his side that the battle of the breakdown will be crucial when they host France in Cape Town today (1pm Irish time).