Paul O'Connell: Ireland will 'bring everything they've brought to the big occasion in the last few years'

The Ireland coach says Andy Farrell's side will have to bring their A-game to edge the Springboks in Paris.

FINE TUNING: Forwards coach Paul O'Connell during the Ireland rugby squad captain's run at the Stade de France in Saint Denis on Friday. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Paul O’Connell believes it will need a statement performance from Ireland to defeat South Africa at Stade de France on Saturday night but has backed his players’ experience in crunch games to win the World Cup Pool B showdown.

World number one and Six Nations Grand Slam winners Ireland are set to go toe to toe with the defending-champion and second-ranked Springboks in a hugely anticipated sell-out clash that could go a long way to determine both teams’ pathways through the knockout stages.