Springboks’ poor Dublin record remains a pebble in their shoe

Head coach Rassie Erasmus, left, with RG Snyman and Siya Kolisi. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

The Springboks versus Ireland has become the prickliest rivalry in world rugby in recent years for several reasons.

Ireland are the only team to have a positive winning record against the world champions in the Rassie Erasmus-era, which dates back to 2018. 

That’s a big reason, but there is also some smouldering resentment in Ireland. Despite winning three of the last four Tests since 2018, including the big one, in the Pool stage at Rugby World Cup 2023, it’s the Boks who won the title.

Rassie Erasmus’ links to Ireland through his stint at Munster and his strong friendship with former Bok coach Jacques Nienaber, now of Leinster, adds to the rivalry.

And there is also the layer of burgeoning United Rugby Championship rivalries between Munster and Leinster and the Stormers and Bulls completing the spicy concoction.

One thing that remains cordial though, is that there is a lot of respect from each coaching group towards the other.

Ireland have earned the Boks’ respect the hard way – by beating them often – while the Boks have Ireland’s respect for how they have led the world in the past five years.

This weekend’s clash at the Aviva throws all those aspects into the pot along with one other, very vital ingredient – desperation.

On this tour, the Boks wanted to beat France in Paris, to settle talk of France “being robbed” at RWC 2023, but they didn’t need to win. They did that in Paris in 2023. 

As it turned out they beat France comfortably, playing with 14 men for 41 minutes. 

But in Dublin this weekend, the Boks absolutely need to win to underline their credentials as the best team in the world.

Losing won’t necessarily change that perception, as they have been the form Test team in world rugby for the past two years, but it will leave a small asterisk.

The Boks haven’t won in Dublin since 2012 and are focused on turning that nagging statistic around. 

It doesn’t lessen their achievements since 2019, but like a pebble in the shoe, it irritates. They need victory for themselves, more than for a wider rugby audience.

Erasmus, publicly at least, only partly conceded that the result in Dublin would make or break the Boks’ season.

“I don’t know if it (winning or losing) would make it a successful season or not,” Erasmus said. “I guess the way we play on the day, if we play at our best and Ireland is just better, what can you say?

“I guess the last four results just shows you there’s not a lot to pick between the two teams (only one score either way has separated the sides).

“So yes, we would love to win this game, we would love to say we had a great season and we beat Ireland in Dublin, which we haven’t done since I’ve been involved.

“Winning 12 out of 15 games is probably not a great season. And we still have Wales to play.

“So, I think it will define us in a way, but we’ll keep reality in our minds.” 

Erasmus is probably being a bit hard on himself, that if they lose in Dublin and go on to beat Wales, finishing the season with 12 wins from 15 Tests is not a great season.

The Boks won the Rugby Championship for a second straight year and produced a record 43-10 win over the All Blacks in Wellington. 

They hold every piece of silverware they’ve competed for in 2025, while giving 48 players Test caps, and evolving their style of rugby.

They’ve achieved a great deal, which can’t be measured only in wins and losses on the field. But…the pebble in the shoe.

Erasmus has selected an experienced side carrying the winning momentum of six consecutive Test victories into the match. He has chosen settled combinations and has players with vast experience.

The Boks have a collective total of 1,237 caps across the 23-man squad, averaging 53.7 caps per player.

Leinster lock RG Snyman will earn his 50th Test cap off the bench, producing yet another milestone for this decorated group.

At halfback, Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu combine for the sixth time as a starting pair this year, solidifying their positions as the first-choice unit.

The 34-year-old Reinach is enjoying one of the best seasons of his life and his clash with Jamison Gibson-Park could define the contest.

Similarly, Feinberg-Mngomezulu and his opposite number Sam Prendergast are considered two of the brightest fly-half talents in the game.

The difference is that Feinberg-Mngomezulu has produced some ridiculously high-level performances on the biggest stage already and looks to be more than a generational talent – he’s perhaps a once-every-second-generation phenom.

Prendergast has made a strong, if steady, start to Test rugby. These matches are tight and the difference could be a moment of brilliance.

Outside Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel feature in a record-extending 42nd outing as a Bok centre pairing. 

De Allende is now also increasingly familiar with playing alongside Feinberg-Mngomezulu in that crucial 10/12 axis.

The Bok back-row of Jasper Wiese, Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit is also now a purring machine, as it combines for a fifth time in the last seven Tests.

Perhaps the real point of difference will be from the bench where the Boks’ new look Bomb Squad is usually decisive.

Snyman, tighthead Wilco Louw, looseforward Kwagga Smith, hybrid player Andre Esterhuizen and utility backs Grant Williams and Manie Libbok have repeatedly swung games in the second half for the Boks.

The Boks have won every second half in their last seven Tests – including by 19-3 in Paris with 14 men and by 22-11 against Italy in Turin with 14 men.

It’s a testament to their fitness, quality from the bench and their mental fortitude. 

They have the composure to stay calm in tense moments in big games – more so now than ever before – because they have different ways to win.

They can run teams off their feet (see the All Blacks in Wellington), or grind them down (see Paris). That is the benefit of experience and belief, allied to clarity and quality.