Fear of South Africa backlash as Joe Schmidt targets test history

Joe Schmidt has more history to chase as this Ireland squad eyes a series victory in South Africa but even with an opening win in the bag he was preparing for the inevitable Springbok backlash in this weekend’s second Test.

Ireland’s 14-man heroics at Newlands on Saturday to secure a 26-20 win against the odds for Schmidt’s injury- depleted tourists marked a first victory in eight attempts on South African soil dating back to 1961. With two Tests remaining against new Springboks coach Allister Coetzee’s side there is now the chance to secure a further milestone as Ireland attempt to do what only France (1958), New Zealand (1996) and the British & Irish Lions, most recently in 1997, have previously managed and win a series here.

As Ireland flew north from Cape Town to Johannesburg with the Boks yesterday, Schmidt was already braced for a ferocious response from the hosts at altitude in Ellis Park this Saturday. Mention of a series win now so tantalisingly close still seemed premature to the New Zealand-born Irish boss.