Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has opted for a seven-one split of forwards and backs on a stacked bench for the Stade de France showdown. Hooker Bongi Mbonambi and Damian Willemse, who switches from fly-half to full-back, are the only two starting players retained from Sunday’s 76-0 thrashing of Pool B minnows Romania. The reigning champions have recalled their star names as part of 13 personnel changes. Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Robbie Henshaw. Hooker Dan Sheehan is in line for his first appearance since suffering a foot injury in last month’s warm-up win over England after being named among the replacements. Ireland starting XV: Hugo Keenan Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe Johnny Sexton (captain), Jamison Gibson-Park Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris. Replacements: Deon Fourie, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach. South Africa starting XV: Damian Willemse Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe Manie Libbok, Faf de Klerk Steven Kitshoff, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert Siya Kolisi (captain), Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Jasper Wiese. Shortly, both sides will be out in Paris.īefore the anthems, here’s a reminder of tonight’s line-ups, with both teams virtually at full strength.Ī reminder, too, in case you weren’t aware - where have you been? - that seven of South Africa’s eight replacements are forwards. Eventually Lowe found Hansen in space to touch down for the opening try and remarkably give Ireland the edge at the interval. Libbok landed a penalty yet somehow, under overwhelming pressure, Ireland began to seize the momentum back as their line-out possession became more secure and they began to put together their attacking shapes.Īnd the breakthrough finally came when Ireland opted to maul a line-out, with van der Flier and O’Mahony driving for the line when the Sexton lopping and dummying to a metre of the Springbok line. The world champions doubled down on this pressure by launching a tag-team of their forwards to disrupt the tackle situation, determined to make Ireland’s ball slow and messy to deny Sexton any front foot ball. Despite dominating territory in the opening quarter, Ireland could not make any of their pressure count, losing their first four line-outs and five of their first eight in the opening quarter.

Yet it was South Africa who had laid down the first marker, like a heavyweight boxer charging out of their corner, smashing into Ireland’s ruck and assumes early and utter dominance over Ireland’s line-out, denying Andy Farrell’s side any attacking platform. The key for Ireland now will be to find a way to ensure they push on from this high, bottle the physical and emotional intensity that enable to dominate the breakdown and hold their own at scrum time. Sexton would later describe it as the most exhilarating atmosphere he had experienced with an Ireland team away from home, claiming it felt like there were at least 60,000 green-clad supporters in the Stade de France, which gave his side the emotional edge. Ireland are now on course to qualify for the quarter-finals as pool winners, where they are likely to face New Zealand, another gargantuan task ahead.īut Farrell’s men will now set their sights on making history by becoming the first Ireland side to reach the last-four, even if they are now likely to face New Zealand. But if France have stolen the headlines and limelight of the opening rounds of the tournament, Farrell’s side have left no-one in any doubt now of their credibility as the number one-ranked side. They may have opened their World Cup campaign in a relatively low-key manner. This was a 16th successive victory for Ireland, who have lost just two of their last 30 Tests. It was at times unbearably fraught, with the result on a knife edge right until the last play when Ireland were forced to defend a 15-man Springbok driving maul edging towards their line.īut Andy Farrell’s side were worthy victors, overcoming their first-half line-out frailties to defuse the Springbok ‘Bomb squad’ in the second half with arguably their finest ever performance. It may yet turn out to be a dry run of the real thing at the end of next month.īut for now, it is Ireland who underscored their status as favourites for the first time to lift the Webb Ellis trophy with a stunning victory over the defending champions. It was a game of such ferocious intensity, drama, and heroism from both sides that it bore all the hallmarks of a World Cup final.

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