Siya Kolisi: Ireland have improved since last meeting in 2017

There is a score to settle in this first meeting between the sides since November 2017, when Kolisi was part of a side coached by Allister Coetzee that was hammered 38-3 in Dublin

LIMBERING UP: South Africa captain Siya Kolisi says Ireland have improved still further from the 38-3 hammering of the Springboks in 2017. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady

If South Africa play Ireland with the same generosity of spirit Siya Kolisi displayed towards them on the eve of this encounter there would be little to suggest this was a clash of the top two sides in the world rankings.

Fortunately for Springboks supporters, their captain’s bite is much more menacing than the tame bark he emitted during his press conference in Dublin on Friday afternoon, an interaction with the media that saw the back-rower heap praise on Andy Farrell’s side and repeatedly play up their current status as Test rugby’s number one side.