Ireland v South Africa will set the agenda for the rest of the tournament

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: Siya Kolisi during the South Africa rugby squad captain's run at the Stade de France in Saint Denis, Paris, France. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The time for talking is over. The most anticipated game of Rugby World Cup 2023 is only hours away and it will the set the agenda for the rest of the tournament.

Ireland and South Africa – the No 1 and 2 teams in the world – shouldn’t be meeting in Pool play but that’s the reality of the draw and the reality of what players and coaches will have to deal with.

Losing does not immediately mean elimination from the tournament but it does make it harder to reach the last eight. So, while the outcome won’t be definitive, it will hobble the team on the wrong end of the result.

Much has been made of the Springboks’ squad choice with seven forwards on the bench. It gives an indication of how they see Ireland’s strengths and possibly their weaknesses by loading the side with breakdown specialists.

It goes without saying the set pieces will be a key battleground but clearly the Boks have seen something in Ireland’s breakdown play, and possibly their defence from turnovers, that led to the Boks essentially going with four openside flankers in their 23.

They steadfastly refuse to give much away though.

“We just focus on our strengths and what works for us. Sometimes it is not always seven-one but for this game, knowing the challenge that lies ahead and the quality of Ireland, we just wanted to make sure we have got fresh legs on the field,” assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said.

“You are playing against the best team in the world. As a team, we will probably lean more to our strengths. I don’t think there’s going to be much change in how we normally play the game.

“If you look at the challenges we have faced so far this season, we have played the All Blacks – one of the best attacking teams in the world – twice and if you are not at your best in your systems and defence, they will punish you.

“It was the same in our first game against Scotland, who are one of the best attacking teams, and Ireland are similar. They are well organised in their systems. They are not just number one for nothing, they are doing something right.

“But in a World Cup, you get different challenges and you have to adapt.

“As Springboks we are good travellers. You can take us anywhere, we know how to adapt to conditions. We are so solution-driven, that is the strength of our team.

“I don’t think we are going to change much; we will focus on doing what we do best. It’s going to be a tough game but that is how we want it – we don’t want any easy games. I can tell you one thing – we will be prepared for this game.” 

Ireland of course, will see plenty of opportunity with the Boks’ plan.

The rush defence, with the Boks coming hard off the line and from the outside in, is confrontational and hard to combat.

But in Johnny Sexton Ireland have a man with huge experience and composure who might be able to unpick the rush. He only has to do it once or twice as well, because this is a game likely to be settled by one score either way.

Can Sexton dink the ball over the rush accurately enough for Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki to profit? The Boks have chosen their more agile wings in Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe, to combat that tactic.

The Boks will be caught out that way a few times but they are relying on the sweepers to do enough to stifle the breakthrough when it comes.

Will Sexton, or someone else, look for the long flat pass wide to beat the rush? The risk is immense, but the rewards could be even greater.

In game one, the Boks didn’t allow Scotland fly-half Finn Russell to breathe. They simply smothered him and Scotland’s highly-rated attack looked as effective as a kilt in a howling gale.

The intention is to do the same to Ireland, but the difference might be that the Bok pack isn’t as dominant as it was against Scotland. From that dominant platform up front, Scotland were always slightly on the back foot, giving Russell less time and space.

Ireland’s pack can certainly go toe-to-toe with the Boks and if they are able to gain parity for long enough periods, Sexton could orchestrate from a more comfortable position closer to the gainline.

In theory, both sides, tactically and technically, have enough to beat the other. The decisive factors in this match will be execution and composure.

Which side will be able to execute their strategy more consistently under pressure? Which side will hold its composure best when the tide inevitably turns for a period in the match?

It’s hard to say because these are the two most experienced teams in the tournament with the biggest number of caps and the two oldest average squads. Composure, developed through experience, is what makes them both excellent teams.

“It’s going to be a challenging game. Both sides have a lot to play for,” Bok prop Steven Kitshoff said.

“For us, we have to make sure we perform well and keep the momentum gained during the first couple of games. Anything can happen on the night, the team that pitch up the most desperate and willing to work for those extra bits will come away victorious. It’s going to be a close game.”