Can Irish rookies thrive at this altitude?

Here are three things Ireland need to do to secure back-to-back victories over South Africa...

Sat, 18 Jun, 2016 - 01:00

A rugby player, coach and manager during a glittering career with Munster, Ireland and the Lions and now a definitive voice in Irish rugby analysis and commentary.

1 Master the environment

Jamie Heaslip is the only member of today’s Irish match-day squad to savour a test win at Ellis Park and even then the circumstances were quite different. When the Irish No 8 arrived here for the third test on the 2009 Lions tour, the Springboks already had the series in the bag after winning the opening two. Only then, after they made wholesale changes, were Paul O’Connell’s men able to register the triumph their efforts in the opening two games deserved.