Ireland wary of wounded Bok theory

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.

The world champions arrived in Ireland yesterday for the inaugural international rugby match at the Aviva Stadium with star second row Bakkies Botha telling his Twitter followers: “Newspapers in Dublin not giving us a chance. I say bring it on!”

That was just the sort of incentive that the Irish management feared would spark a side with just one win in its last six Tri-Nations outings over the summer.