Ireland should start as favourites against South Africa

Agree Boks about Aussies standard. But the Aussies just beat the All Blacks and the Boks came very close. Then again these All Black beating Wallabies try as they might could beat the Boks. I think too much is being made of the 57-0 game. I recall the 2006 Boks losing 49-0 and the next year winning the World Cup. Find out all your problem areas in one game is a horrible but worthwhile lesson. I am picking the Boks to win against the odds. I don't think Ireland will handle being favourites. I think they prefer the underdog status. The Boks are underdogs for this game, and that suits them. Also I don't think the Bok backline is as weak as everyone is making out. I like Brendan Venter Northern Hemisphere nous with Italy for this game. His input has improved the Boks drastically this year.

Ireland may be considered favourites, but in the average SA supporters mind any loss to Ireland is considered an absolute failure. Many have lost hope over the last couple of years, but the expectation to win is still there. Unfortunately games aren't won on expectation and history, but by the players on the field on that particular day. "Ireland have won five out of 15 Tests against South Africa, with the Springboks winning nine and one draw." mate not sure where you get your stats from, but I have: Played 25 SA won 18 Ireland won 6 Drawn 1 If you were meaning that Ireland have one 5 out of the last 15 tests since SA's readmission (actually first game was 1998) then that is correct, but SA have won 10 from the last 15 not 9. The draw came in 1965. Editors - do you not check stats when writers throw them out as being fact?

"J Carbery – the one player who I think is one step away from being clobbered for his fancy dancing"- This is so accurate. I've yet to see a result other than a line break or a high-tackle penalty when Carbery get's the ball.

I'm expecting the Springboks to dominate the lineout. Rob Kearney will try and run over Etzebeth, everytime he get's the ball. "Killer" Kilcoyne vs Louw will be really interesting. I was hoping that "the continuity" Dreyer brings, would keep him in the squad.

Cathal I think what all fans really hope for is: SA plays like they did in Cape Town vs ABs and Ireland plays as it did in Chicago ... Ireland would win, but it'd be a helluva match !

At the same time if Ireland play like they did in Chicago than SA might aswell not show up no matter how they play.

You lost me when you said the Springbok tighthead is as good as Furlong.

SA's XV has 439 caps; half of those owned by a few Boks.

Poth Ale I think Ireland's brutal backline can bully SA's delicate little one. But probably they won't need to; just hoist garryowens for the tiny Boklings to spill; or charge down Lazy Elton's predictable kicks.

Well I got my wishes with a few newbies/Young caps in the team for Saturday. Henshaw at 13. Stockdale and Conway starting on the wings - yum! 15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 76 caps 14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 3 caps 13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 29 caps 12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)* 11. Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 2 caps 10. Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 66 caps 9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 57 caps 1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 70 caps 2. Rory Best (c) (Banbridge/Ulster) c 104 caps 3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 16 caps 4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 32 caps 5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 50 caps 6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 40 caps 7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster) 49 caps 8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 15 caps Replacements 16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 1 cap 17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 20 caps 18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 9 caps 19. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps 20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster) 16 caps 21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 16 caps 22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 4 caps 23. Darren Sweetnam (Cork Constitution/Munster)*

Well, Ireland should win by 5-7 points, despite a probable 2H comeback by SA fueled by two young Bok props on the bench, because Elton Jantjies somehow retained the 10 jersey. That should give Ireland a 10-15 point lead by the half. Boks: Andries Coetzee, Dillyn Leyds, Jessie Kriel, Damian de Allende, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronjé, Francois Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Coenie Oosthuizen, Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira. Bench: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Wilco Louw, Franco Mostert, Uzair Cassiem, Rudy Paige, Handré Pollard, Francois Venter.

And I have yet to see PSDT driven back by anyone, ever

Healy v Kitshoff? Not sure. Probably even. Furlong v Oosthuizen in contact? I WANNA SEE THAT!!! Hahaha But I really want to see Wilco Louw become a rich man as he shows his power in 2H.

Colm: Etzebeth, PSDT, Lood, and Mostert would all get top dollar in European rugby. Lood made many RWC Team of Tournament teams in the U.K. press, and PSDT is an elite player who could easily walk into Saracens ahead of former Stormer Michael Rhodes. Mostert was one of the best locks in Super Rugby (top LO stealer).

Yep. But Schmidt has to use these tests to chisel out his second and third choices for RWC time. We’re shy at hooker. Lamentably. Ryan, Porter and Kilcoyne need more caps in the front row. Toner and Henderson have to give way to Ryan, Treadwell, and Dillane more often. Conan is a real 8 and needs to take Heaslip’s mantle Backrow stocks are plentiful and getting games. vDFlier and Leavy need more caps Can’t be Murray all the time - Marmion, McGrath and possibly Cooney Sexton? Jackson is gone, possibly for good. None of Carbery, Keatley or Hanrahan are shining Midfield is good and shaping nicely, same with wing spots Someone other than Kearney needs to own the 15 shirt. I’m not buying the well-oiled machine line - at least until I see the team sheet later today.

Think you have supporter's doubts, Poth. I think Ireland should be pretty firm favourites. South Africa proved that they were about Australia's standard and I think it is fair to say that Ireland have probably proven themselves ahead of Australia and South Africa over the last 12 months. Plus Ireland has the home ground advantage.

I’d look at R Kearney - Schmidt reliable pro or else love-child if you’re a Munster/Ulster/Connacht fan J Stockdale - upcoming newbie /Zebo replacement the Ulster boy has got stars in his eyes and tries in his feet R Henshaw - back in the real shirt where he belongs B Aki - boo hiss - could try too hard K Earls - seems to be speeding up in his old age and scoring tries J Sexton - no surprises C Murray - no surprises D Kilcoyne - surprise! R Best (capt) - shoring up the biggest hole in Ireland’s positional squad depth T Furlong - reliable stocky bloke D Toner - reliable lighthouse I Henderson - after making noises about following Zebo he’d better perform if he wants a central contract next June Rhys Ruddock - the form 6 of the season S O’Brien - Mr Business As Usual has shrugged off Wazzagate and ready to put in a shift or three C J Stander - boo hiss ideally should be Conan if injury hadn’t crocked him Benches: C Healy - McGrath is stuttering, Cian has put the work in. R Herring - Tracy needs to improve if he wants to take the Cronin shirt. J Ryan - honest toiler and Porter needs more experience before attempting to Bok the Boks U Dillane - it could be James Ryan but probably too raw Peter O’M - lose the Munster pained scowl and cause havoc in the second half K Marmion or L McGrath - Joe can’t make his mind up, neither can I. J Carbery - the one player who I think is one step away from being clobbered for his fancy dancing A Conway - favourite Munster player from Leinster - great eye for the line. Enough creaky parts that I’d be giving a warmed up Bok side an even chance and maybe a slight margin. The bookies say Ireland at -5 on the handicap. Who knows?

Yeah, but that doesn't help if the centres cannot pass the ball, and the ball has continually gotten stuck in the centres. Plus, the outside backs are so, so poor. At the end of the day, however, I expect South Africa to be ahead in both the line out and the scrum. Overall the front-row of the Boks are stronger in the scrum and around the park if only because Marx is such a beast and Best is well past his best. I also think you underrate the Boks' props. Second row the locking pair of Eben + either PSDT or de Jager is, overall, much more powerful than Ireland's. I also disagree that de Jager and PSDT don't individually provide more power Hendo. Hendo is more mobile for sure, but I don't think he can match them for power. Without Vermuelen it is advantage Ireland in the back-row for sure, despite the fact O'Mahony hasn't been in great form. If the Springboks try and go wide their outside backs will likely fail to get the ball often enough, and even when they do they have offered little in the way of the attack. The Boks' forward pack beat up the All Blacks in Cape Town and it was their backs who messed it up. If a pack is capable of beating up the All Blacks then they're capable of dominating Ireland up front. Ireland has the vastly better 6-15. Not saying they will necessarily win playing 10 man rugby, only that they are almost definitely guaranteed to lose if they try and play expansively. Keeping it tight and trying to win it in the forwards and off the set piece at least gives them Boks a chance.

I was talking about the selection of Cassiem in general this year, not just for this tour.

I was referring to "the Second row the Boks are so far ahead " comment. Etzebeth is ahead, but the rest are on a par with Iain Henderson.