McNaughton: don’t underestimate might of wounded Boks

IRELAND team manager Paul McNaughton has warned that world champions South Africa are not a team on a “slippery slope” despite their unimpressive performances on their European tour.

The Springboks’ travails began at Welford Road three weeks ago with a defeat to Leicester, and continued with further reversals against France in Toulouse and Saracens in Wembley.

Four tries handed them a convincing win in Italy last weekend but Peter de Villiers’ squad is clearly feeling the effects of a long and demanding season in which they defeated the Lions and topped the Tri-Nations table.