"But Andy Farrell is a slick operator and would have circled this date in red on his calendar long before Erasmus and his gang touched down at Dublin Airport. He'll no doubt have a few tricks up his sleeve. Ireland, though, have not managed to kick on in quote the same fashion. The loss of Johnny Sexton is still keenly felt and there is an over reliance on some players who are in the autumn of their careers."
"Ireland are not the team they were two years ago and the South Africans will start as favourites. They have retained a core group of gnarled veterans while blooding young talents. They can strike on the counter, break teams down through methodical phase play and crash over opponents with sheer, unrivalled heft. There's a reason sober rugby minds have wondered if they are the equal to Richie McCaw's All Blacks."
Kick-off is at 5.40pm GMT. Both coaches want the match and, if it lives up to the billing, it could be the game of the year. Andy Farrell will have prepared well and likely has strategic tricks planned. Ireland have not progressed in the same fashion; the loss of Johnny Sexton is keenly felt, and there is an over-reliance on aging players. Ireland are not the team they were two years ago. South Africa start as favourites, fielding veteran cores and young talent, capable of counter strikes, methodical phase play and overpowering opponents with immense physicality. Rassie Erasmus has succeeded broadly but has never won in Dublin.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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