Ireland can front up to physical Springboks, says Conor O’Shea

As Joe Schmidt named a 44-man squad to take part in a 24-hour training camp this weekend, Conor O’Shea was backing Ireland to cause an upset and beat the Springboks in South Africa this summer.

Ireland will travel to South Africa for a three-Test tour in June seeking to record their first ever win against the Boks in their own backyard.

O’Shea travelled to South Africa with Ireland in 1998 which is remembered for the violent second Test, labelled the ‘Battle of Pretoria’, but he believes that the current team have the fitness levels and physicality to deal with the Boks.