Boks eager to meet Ireland in the middle

Expect fireworks in Saint Denis.

RG Snyman, right, and Siya Kolisi during the South Africa rugby squad captain's run at the Stade de France. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ireland’s modern relationship with the southern hemisphere’s best is markedly different to how it was. Moral victories are a relic of the past, the old currency long since replaced by the weightier value that comes with wins that can be recorded on a scoreboard.

Five of the last seven games against the All Blacks have been successes, Australia have only succeeded in two of the last eight meetings and the head-to-head with the Springboks reads seven wins in the last eleven.