Boks' bookies favour Ireland

South African bookies have installed Ireland as favourites for Saturday’s first test in Bloemfontein after the Springboks suffered yet another injury blow, according to the Evening Echo.

Western Stormers centre De Wet Barry was yesterday ruled out of the South African team to face Ireland as the home side’s injury jinx continues.

In the past three weeks, new Boks coach Jake White has seen six of his key players struck down with long term injuries as he attempts to re-build the team following a disastrous World Cup campaign.

Traditionally, the rugby faithful in South Africa would expect their team to beat Ireland with some degree of ease but this injury epidemic — coupled with Ireland’s steady form over the last six months — has forced bookies to make Eddie O’Sullivan’s side favourites to record their first ever test away victory against the Springboks.

One Cape Town bookmaker had the visitors as 6/4 to win the first game, with the home side at 2/1. Another made Ireland 2/1 favourites for the game in Bloemfontein on Saturday but believed that the game in Cape Town the following week would be too tough a task for them.

Meanwhile, White has been trying to put on a brave public face despite all the bad news he’s had to deal with over the past three weeks.

Even the loss of the superb Barry can’t stop South Africa’s 10th coach in 12 years believing that his side can still come out on top against Ireland at Vodacom Park on Saturday afternoon.

“The injury to Barry is obviously a problem in that he has trained with Marius Joubert in the centre so much in the past few weeks, but I do have confidence in the player coming in to replace him,” he said.

“As for the rest of the team, I have decided that as far as possible we need to stick to the original squad that was selected. We need to have confidence in the players initially selected and to change as little as possible so that we can keep continuity. We are just starting out and for the most part the players here proved themselves through Super 12 form.

"But the competition has also had its other effects and several players are now missing due to injury. We must make do with what we have, the players have done well in the Super 12, and I have confidence in their ability to do well.”

White also spoke of the respect he had for this current Irish team.

“Anyone who can beat England at Twickenham must be a good team. I’ve seen the video of that one a few times and they really did deserve to win it.

"They are an extremely organised side and they’ve been playing together for a long time. I certainly think they are favourites for the game but I’m still confident.”