'They're the best defensive side in the northern hemisphere by far' - Nienaber builds 'balanced' Ireland up ahead of Boks Aviva visit

If much of this is bluster to be digested with a large dose of salt then it comes from a place of bitter experience.

BIG GUNS: Lood de Jager and Coach Jacques Nienaber. ©INPHO/Ben Brady

History really is what you make of it. It’s 18 years since the then Springbok coach Jake White eschewed the usual pre-match niceties to declare that only three of the Ireland squad they were about to face in Dublin were of a quality to make his South African squad.

The trio in question? Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell and Malcolm O’Kelly since you were wondering. And the Bok boss made it perfectly plain that, with Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield at his beck and call, only O’Driscoll would be at a level rare enough to make it into his starting line-up.