We have a South Africa v Ireland prediction for you plus a breakdown of the betting odds, team news and matchups ahead of the first game of their Summer Series.
How To Watch South Africa v Ireland
When is South Africa v Ireland
4.00 pm, Saturday, July 6th
TV Channel
Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action
Live Stream
Sky Go App
Who are the officiating team?
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), Mike Adamson (Scotland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Where is South Africa v Ireland
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
South Africa v Ireland Odds
Team | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
South Africa | 3/10 | 76.9% |
Ireland | 11/4 | 26.7 % |
Draw | 22/1 | 4.3% |
Rugby World Cup Champions South Africa are 3/10 to kick off the series without a win and Six Nations Champions Ireland are 11/4 outsiders with the draw priced at a massive 22/1.
Handicap Betting
South Africa: -10 @ 11/10
Ireland: +10 @ 8/11
Handicap Draw: -10 @ 22/1
Bet on South Africa v Ireland Odds at BoyleSports
Team News
South Africa Team News
South Africa starting lineup: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Ireland Team News
Ireland starting lineup: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O'Mahony (c), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Garry Ringrose
South Africa v Ireland Weather Forecast
Fine conditions for rugby are expected for the rugby Saturday with temperatures expected to be about 20 degrees with no rainfall expected and wind speeds light between 4-13 km/h.
South Africa v Ireland Preview
South Africa's Form
South Africa came into this game as the World Number (1) ranked side and most importantly of all the reigning 2023 Rugby World Cup Champions following their 11-12 victory against New Zealand last October.
The Springboks play an attritional style of Rugby characterised by the “Bomb Squad”. This referred to setting up their bench for maximum impact using a six-two split (with six forwards and two back on the bench) so the team could maintain a level of physical output up front. While not glamorous it has done the business in the last two Rugby World Cups winning it in 2019 and 2023 to take their tally of titles to 4.
Since being crowned Champions last October, The Springboks were inactive on the international stage until they returned to action two weeks ago against the Welsh. Given that Wales are in a period of transition it’s no surprise that South Africa ran out dominant winners 41-13. Ireland will pose a very different threat though and were the last team to beat them during the Pool Stage of the Rugby World Cup by an 8-13 scoreline.
Ireland's Form
Ireland came into this tournament following their 2024 Six Nations campaign which culminated in their second successive title, in what has been very much a golden age for Irish Rugby, this was their 16th title and had it not been for a narrow 23-22 defeat to England it would have been back to back Grand Slam titles.
That Six Nations success meant they had put the disappointment of the Rugby World Cup behind them. What started as a tournament with great hope and promise including an 8-13 win over eventual winners South Africa (which meant they would end up winning the pool) they fell at the knockout stage hurdle again losing 24-28 to New Zealand.
Ahead of this test series, the main discussion point around Irish Rugby is not the quality of their squad, but moreover the lack of experimentation with Andy Farrell's squad selections with him generally favouring the tried and tested rather than blooding new players. However, one decision which has garnered attention is to pick uncapped Leinster “Centre” at Full-Back for the opening test rather than Ciaran Frawley or Jimmy O’Brien who regularly play there.
South Africa v Ireland Rugby Head-To-Head
All-Time Head-To-Head Record
Ireland and South Africa have played each other in rugby union since 1906 with South Africa running out 12-15 winners in a match where 15,000 were present in Belfast. Since then 28 test matches have been played between both with Ireland winning 9 times, South Africa winning on 18 occasions and 1 draw taking place.
Following Ireland's tour win over New Zealand in 2022, South Africa are the only major Southern Hemisphere team over which Ireland has not achieved a series victory.
Head-To-Head Results Last Five Matches
2023: Ireland won 8-13 in the Stade de France
2022: Ireland won 19- 16 in the Aviva Stadium
2017: Ireland won 38-3 in the Aviva Stadium
2016: South Africa won 19-13 in the Nelson Mandela Stadium
2016: South Africa won 32-26 in Ellis Park Stadium
Trends
Ireland has won 6 of the last 8 test meetings between both nations.
Key Players
Cheslin Kolbe – South Africa
In a Springboks side where the forwards often receive the bulk of the plaudits and attention (quite literally), Toulon Winger Cheslin Kolbe (30) is a very exciting attacking threat and had 91 points from his 31 caps for his country since debuting back in 2018. Cheslin is not only a prolific try threat but his biggest asset is his ferocious pace which garnered plenty of attention at the Rugby World Cup.
WOW! #RWC2023 | #FRAvRSA pic.twitter.com/aVj0M4UUyq
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 15, 2023
Dan Sheehan – Ireland
The main man for his country (Ireland) and his province (Leinster) is Hooker Dan Sheehan (25) who interestingly finished joint top-scorer at the Six Nations with (5) along with winger van der Merwe. However, it's far more than the try-scoring ability he brings with Sheehan being a strong ball carrier with sharp footwork and a turn of pace reminiscent of a winger.
South Africa v Ireland Prediction & Best Bet
Prediction: South Africa 24-18 Ireland
South Africa are the team to beat in World Rugby right now and will want to extend their record of being the only Southern Hemisphere side never to lose a series to Ireland. Although they won’t have it easy against an Irish side who has more often than not had the better of them in recent games.
South Africa facilitated by the “Bomb Squad” will do enough to get them over the line in the first set unless Ireland can find themselves their very own bomb disposal unit!
Best Bet: South Africa Win by 1-12 Points @ 8/5
Bet on South Africa v Ireland Odds at BoyleSports
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
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