Dublin threatens your emotional well-being. Every day began much the same, with depressingly low temperatures exacerbated by soul-destroying winds and rain that was never quite strong enough to drive you from the street, but often severe enough to sting any exposed skin. And the subzero weather on game day made winter in Bloemfontein seem like a lark on Clifton 4th. The locals tell me that in January people rarely go out at night. Not for the faint-hearted.

The worst thing about the Dublin weather is that it never lasts. Bad weather is succeeded by sunshine which lasts just long enough for you to consider changing your perception of the city’s climate. As soon as that decision’s made, it’s clouded over again, the wind’s picked up and rain is inevitably on the way. It’s little wonder the locals seek refuge in the more consistent climes of bars and pubs.

Like the walkways of London and Toulouse, the city’s streets are constantly congested, the bustle of the famous Grafton Street sure to claim you if you’re not paying attention. Rain or shine, performers and singers entertain passers-by with popular renditions of English and native Gaelic songs, and the traditional Irish music is prominent.

Dublin city centre is not a big place, which made Saffa spotting easier than usual. By Friday, you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing a green and gold jersey or hearing an Afrikaans phrase. Traipsing around town, you’re also likely to see a few Irish players going about there business, Tommy Bowe and Tomas O’Leary just a couple who were spotted.

South Africa has its fair share of adverts featuring famous sportsmen. You’ll all remember the “Schalk Burger Burger” ad for Steers, and will have seen the hilarious Bic shaving ads with the Beast. In Ireland, they don’t recruit the national stars unless it’s really important. ‘Get behind Ireland’s dairy farmers, I do,’ advises Paul O’Connell before chugging a glass of milk.

Peter de Villiers said he was sick and tired of all the physicality talk in the build up to the Ireland game. Nobody asked him if the Irish were physical afterward, but everyone asked the hosts about the Boks’ belligerent approach. No 8 Jamie Heaslip, who’ll give as good as he gets on the pitch, had this for an answer: ‘Well they’ll never be accused of being ladyboys, now will they?’

Dublin’s an old city with plenty of cultural sites to explore. Fans of writers James Joyce and William Butler Yeats may opt to pay homage at the respective museums and exhibits, while those at the other end of the culture scale will take a leisurely stroll out to the Guinness Storehouse. I wish I could say the latter visit was amazing, but you can only get so excited about brewery processes. One thing is for certain, however – Guinness tastes a whole lot better when you’re in Ireland.

Croke Park crammed in 75 000 people for Saturday’s game, and the majority of the crowd managed to respect tradition. Throughout most stadiums in Europe, you can hear a pin drop when a kicker – from the home or local side – lines up a shot at goal. It’s something South African fans will never get used to. On this tour alone, these moments have been marred by loutish cries of ‘Bokke!’ and ‘Miss, miss!’ At the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, the crowd sat in awed silence in order to appreciate the haka. When the All Blacks perform their traditional war dance in South Africa, it’s usually drowned out by cries of ‘Ole, ole, ole!’ I suppose you have to allow for freedom of speech, but those who come to the respective rugby grounds to appreciate these traditions are ultimately the ones who lose out.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

The Boks only know how to play one way, but when it doesn’t work for them, they don’t have an alternate plan or means of breaking down the opposition. Brutal physicality will always be the bedrock of South African rugby, but the attacking play is in dire need of a revamp.

They were exposed in Toulouse and again at Croke Park. The French had them under pressure up front early in the fixture, and by half-time it was clear they couldn’t be beaten using typical tactics. In Dublin, the Boks employed the right tactics but their inaccuracy at flyhalf and in the set-pieces let them down badly. What was worrying about that match is that no one decided to change tack.

Marc Lievremont was wise to the bully boy tactics, and the talk in the week preceding that Test was about the Boks’ physicality. It seemed obvious what the Boks would do even before they left South Africa, and surely the Bok coaching staff should have expected this kind of response.

When asked about preparation in the aftermath, however, several Bok players said the French caught them by surprise. Come on. You come to France as the world champions and you have a reputation as the bullies of world rugby. What did you think France were going to do? Give you their lunch money?

Naivety aside, the senior Boks should have realised things weren’t going to work early on in the game and made a decision to change to Plan B. That’s what they should have done if there was a Plan B to change to.

Morne Steyn has had a fantastic year and I’m sure the IRB got it wrong – it wouldn’t be the first time (cough-Richie McCaw-cough) when they nominated Frans Steyn as a Player of the Year nominee. But Morne Steyn has been uncharacteristically shaky on this tour, and one wonders how bad his decision-making would have been had Fourie du Preez not been around to guide him.

Steyn was striking the ball horribly in Udine, but saved his worst performance with the boot for Dublin. He missed a few penalty punts and his tactical kicking left a lot to be desired especially since the Boks were playing with the wind in the first half. John Smit said it best when he pointed to two missed penalty kicks at the end of the half as potentially game-costing. Steyn, who sinks them from 50m on the highveld and at sea-level (ask Western Province) knows he should have done better.

Kicking is Steyn’s strength, but it worried to see him utilising so few of his other talents. By neglecting these, he underused his dangerous runners out wide. Jaque Fourie has been a force since returning to the starting line-up but has not received enough chances. Bryan Habana is living off scraps while JP Pietersen had a very quiet tour.

The Adi Jacobs experiment – what else would you call it – well and truly failed. Jacobs doesn’t have the build or skill set to be the kind of No 12 the Boks need and is more suited to the No 13 position. Jean de Villiers will be back in South Africa in time for the World Cup, but in the interim, the Boks should go with Wynand Olivier who had an outstanding game at Croke Park.

The future of Ruan Pienaar remains a mystery. He was Peter de Villiers’ first-choice flyhalf in June, but seems to have lost all confidence. He’ll undergo corrective surgery to his knee when he gets home, and one hopes he’ll be adequately prepared for the 2010 Super 14.

If he is to be the alternative to Steyn, he has to play flyhalf in the Super 14 and build some confidence. At present, he’s an erratic goal-kicker and perhaps something needs to be done to increase his mental strength. He’s also a fine attacking player who could provide the Boks with variety they need to truly evolve (and perhaps even develop a Plan B). Pienaar’s important, and it’s high time the powers that be stop treating him like a bit player.

One player who impressed during his short stint on tour was BJ Botha. So that’s what the Bok scrum looks like going forward. You could almost forgive the Bok inside backs for giving away possession given they’re so unaccustomed to go-forward ball from the scrum.

Botha’s another who wants to come back to South Africa and could be an important player if the Boks are going to defend their world title. Smit is fine player when he’s scrumming between Beast Mtawarira and Botha, but battled when he went back to tighthead in the dying stages of the Ireland game. Since it’s clear the Boks cant do without his leadership, maybe it’s time they pick a decent tighthead, pick Smit at hooker and leave Bismarck du Plessis on the bench. It’s the obvious sacrifice that needs to be made if the Boks are to retain leadership and scrumming strength.

The sad truth is the Bok management have no intention of moving Smit back to No 2 permanently. It’s truly a shame, as this South African side could explore their attacking capabilities if they were afforded a decent platform from the scrum.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

It’s been a record-breaking year for South African rugby. It began with a win for the Bulls in the Super 14 and was followed by success in the British & Irish Lions series. A Tri-Nations crown followed, and it’s little surprise the Springboks have been named the 2009 IRB Team of the Year.

Smit was handed the trophy following his team’s defeat to Ireland. He received the award with a smile, and didn’t look too gutted at the post-match press conference. De Villiers also called for some perspective when probed on a tour scorecard that reads played five, lost four.

‘We didn’t come here not to be successful, but when you look back, you have to admit we’ve had a very good year,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘We won’t allow the results of this tour to affect our mindset. We have to build on what we’ve achieved this year.’

The Bok coach added that the midweek games had provided him with insight into who could feature for the Boks down the line. De Villiers stressed it was important to look even further beyond the 2011 World Cup.

‘The tour was a success even though it’s not the case on the scoreboard. We saw what happened in 2003 and we can’t allow that to happen again. We have to look to what will happen after 2011 as well.’

This was the South Africans’ last fixture in a season that began in early February. Smit, however, said the Boks lost to Ireland because they were inferior on the day, not because they were tired.

‘You can’t blame fatigue. We had to keep the scoreboard ticking. If we had landed our kicks, the Irish would have battled to put pressure on us.

‘In the first half, we created a lot of pressure but we didn’t follow through. We didn’t get our kicks over and the energy we should of gained was transferred to Ireland.

‘We came out in the second half with the same tactics. The message was to up the pace and intensity in the second half. But we just didn’t take our opportunities.’

In Dublin, the Boks bucked the tour trend by outscrumming the opposition but failing in areas like the lineout. Smit’s throw-ins seemed to be on target but Victor Matfield, Andries Bekker and Danie Rossouw were often thwarted by a timely Irish intercept.

Smit admitted former Bok forwards coach Gert Smal may have had something to do with it.

‘We knew Gert would have the lineout well prepared, but our performances at the lineout and in the kicking let us down.
We also gave away too many penalties and Jonny Sexton wasn’t missing too many of them. You can’t win Tests if you give away 10-plus penalties.

‘Looking at the scrums, it is nice to have BJ Botha back. We created a lot of pressure at the scrums. It’s ironic that we did well in that area and then did poorly in the two departments we usually dominate to win Tests.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

Saturday’s victory marked a dream end to 2009 for Ireland, who’ve captured the Six Nations title and boast a record of nine wins and one draw in 10 Tests. O’Driscoll was visibly pleased with his side’s effort at Croke Park, but was quick to call for calm. He pointed to the beating of the Boks as an important to step towards realising Ireland’s own World Cup ambitions.

‘We were in a pretty dark place last year, and we’ve done well to turn things around so quickly,’ the Ireland captain told keo.co.za. ‘It’s a credit to everyone, and I think it comes down to the work ethic.

‘We’ve had a great calendar year, but this was a one-off game. What it has done is renewed our focus on lasting the 80 minutes. I’m glad to come out on the right side of a result. The last three times we’ve been good enough to win in Dublin. Now the pressure’s on us to go down there [to South Africa] and pick up a scalp.’

Declan Kidney was named IRB Coach of the Year on Saturday for his part in turning this team around. He also didn’t go overboard with Saturday’s win, but said the battle had been hugely beneficial to Ireland’s cause.

‘There’s no such thing as a perfect year, there are only moments of perfection,’ Kidney said. ‘What we’ve done is built some confidence, and I’ll tell my players to enjoy this night.

‘It was a tough physical game. We’d like to play against the Tri-Nations teams more as we learn so many things about ourselves and the opposition.’

O’Driscoll commended 24-year-old Jonny Sexton who kicked all of Ireland’s points to win the match. The Leinster flyhalf has played only two Tests and is keeping Ronan O’Gara out of the starting line-up. O’Driscoll said the goal is to develop that sort of depth from Nos 1 to 15.

‘Sexo was solid in the way he kept the scoreboard ticking, and he also controlled the game very well. We’re in a fantastic position to have two quality 10s pushing each other to perform, and the challenge now is to ensure we have that competition in every position.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

The wind wasn’t a factor at Croke Park but the 1 degree-temperature was always going to test a Springbok side that’s endured everything and more in 2009. They responded admirably, delivering a brutal display at scrum time and at the breakdown that gave those South Africans freezing in the cheap seats something to celebrate. Those who had put forth fatigue and the loss of Bakkies Botha as contributors to a Bok downfall must have been disappointed.

Surprisingly, it was at the lineout that the Boks struggled. The influence of Gert Smal, who just two years ago was working with John Smit and Victor Matfield, was patent as the Irish disrupted the Bok feed regularly. If not for the Boks’ dominance in other areas and the visitors’ heroic defence, Ireland may have led at half-time.

The Boks had to wait until the 12th minute for the first scrum, and it was something to behold. BJ Botha smashed opposite number Cian Healy and was well supported by the rest of the Bok pack, who rumbled forward and won several penalties on attacking ball.

Ireland flyhalf Sexton opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty, but it was the Boks, who were starved for both territory and possession, that scored the first and only try. From a scrum penalty, the Boks tapped quickly and looked to have butchered an opportunity before sending the ball back to the point of origin. Fourie du Preez, who had another splendid evening with the boot, showcased his invaluable vision by freeing up Jaque Fourie, who held up the pass for an unstoppable Schalk Burger to score. The man the Irish love to boo after the infamous eye-gouging incident hoofed the ball into the crowd after grounding the try.

Morne Steyn missed a few penalty punts to touch, but did some good things during the first half. He converted Burger’s try and slotted a drop goal to extend the visitors’ lead to 10-3 after 24 minutes.

But the scoreline didn’t tell the story. South Africa resisted a couple of Irish surges thanks to the defensive feats of Burger, Danie Rossouw and Wynand Olivier. Heinrich Brussow also obliged with some steals off his own line. Declan Kidney must have been fuming, while the South African coaches would have been breathing a collective sigh of relief.

Sexton narrowed the deficit to 10-6 on the 30-minute mark while the Bok flyhalf fluffed three successive penalty-attempts. Steyn failed to reach the poles twice at the end of the first half, and pushed another shot wide early in the second. On the whole, South Africa were outkicked by Sexton and Ireland’s phenomenal jack-of-all trades, Rob Kearney.

Another true strike by Sexton and errant tactical probe by Steyn, and you could sense a change in momentum. The dense fog that had threatened to settle since kickoff descended, but the crowd ignored the chill and expressed themselves through Gaelic song.

Andries Bekker was fortunate to escape a yellow card in the 51st minute when he dropped his knee onto the shoulder of an Irish player, but Sexton punished the Boks on the scoreboard. At 12-10, Ireland were in the lead.

The Boks defended bravely but continued to lose badly in the possession and territory stakes. Rossouw was caught after fielding a high ball, and it was South Africa’s good fortune that Sexton pushed the ensuing penalty shot wide.

Steyn was substituted for Ruan Pienaar on the hour, and Botha was also pulled from the front row. The first Bok scrum after the substitution saw the visitors shoved backwards, and the next breakdown resulted in a penalty for Ireland. The locals literally began dancing as Sexton bisected the uprights.

The five-point lead was substantial given South Africa’s battle to retain possession in opposition territory. You couldn’t see them mounting an assault on the Irish line in the time remaining, and with the kickers battling to find their radar, they couldn’t close the gap via penalties. Pienaar could do no better when asked to kick for goal, his attempt bouncing off the post.

Cruelly, for the green and gold faithful, the Boks did manage to get painstakingly close in last minute, but a magnificent Irish spot tackle killed the movement and the match.

The result renders the Boks’ tour a miserable failure with the most recent loss coming after defeats to Leicester, France and Saracens. It has been a long year, but none of the senior Boks will look back at November 2009 with any fond memories.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

An earlier forecast suggested the mercury would climb no higher than six degrees Celsius on match day, but my car’s thermometer revealed a frigid one degree at 12:30pm local time. The stadium lights are on and there’s a dense fog surrounding the ground, but the blustery conditions that threatened to settle have not materialised.

This will help Springbok tactical kickers Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn who talked about the wind factor earlier in the week. Now the Boks just need to overcome the cold, as the first 10 minutes are always crucial in terms of establishing physical dominance.

The IRFU is expecting 75 000 people at Croke Park today, which is a sell-out considering they’ve put more seats into the standing section on the hill.

Bakkies Botha has been an injury concern since last Sunday and was never going to be fit for this fixture. Although they will miss him in the tight, the Boks have anticipated his omission and trained with Andries Bekker in the starting line-up for the better part of the week.

As the hosts, Ireland don their white alternate strips with the Boks wearing the traditional green and gold jersey. There’s plenty of South Africans sitting in the crowd who are wearing the self-same jerseys, but at this stage they’re obscured by several layers of warm clothing. The Dublin city centre has been saturated with Saffas this week, so the Boks can expect plenty of support.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

As reported by this website on Wednesday, Botha was always doubtful to feature in the Croke Park Test, and it was confirmed on Friday that he will play no part. The Springbok lock picked up a back injury in the Italy Test which was exacerbated in the flight from Udine to Dublin.

Bekker comes off the bench to replace Botha while scrumhalf Francois Hougaard will now join the replacements. Danie Rossouw, who will start this game at No 8, will cover at lock.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

The Boks began the week as underdogs but then Ireland coach Declan Kidney did a curious thing. It was a big call to favour greenhorn Jonny Sexton over veteran Ronan O’Gara, and it’s a call he may live to regret.

Sexton’s celebrated as a playmaker while O’Gara’s at his best when his boot does the talking. His accurate goal-kicking under pressure would’ve been invaluable in such a close contest, and his tactical kicking could’ve been decisive in the big battle for territory.

Forget the woulds and the coulds, because ROG’s contribution will be limited to the second half. As it stands, the Boks will target Sexton, as the one-cap wonder is the least experienced player in an otherwise star-studded backline.

South Africa will look to Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn for territorial dominance, but if they’re going to play the game in Irish territory the visiting forwards need to front. There are a few factors that suggest the Boks may win the forward battle for the first time on their five-game tour.

Beast Mtawarira, John Smit and BJ Botha finished in the front row against Italy as the Bok scrum produced an encouraging performance in the final stages. Botha will target Cian Healy, who was the weak link against Australia. Healy delivered a memorable showing in the loose, but was hammered in the scrums. In striving for front-foot ball, the Boks will be gunning for the Irish loosehead.

Victor Matfield had the better of the British & Irish Lions at the lineout earlier this year, and this dominance is set to continue. Paul O’Connell is no world-beater while it’s a mystery to everybody including the local reporters how Donncha O’Callaghan still commands a starting place.

The Boks also have Smit back at hooker, so the South African captain will resume his World Cup-winning lineout partnership with Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw at the tail. Andries Bekker has enjoyed a great tour thus far, and will ensure this dominance continues when he joins the fray.

Peter de Villiers has finally chopped No 8 Ryan Kankowski in favour of the more powerful and physical Rossouw. The Bulls utility forward packed at No 8 during the Boks’ World Cup campaign, and proved a nightmare for defenders around the fringes and off the back of the scrum. If the Bok scrum gets the upper hand, this belligerent Bull will keep the visitors moving forward.

De Villiers has also got the balance of the back row right in selecting Rossouw, Schalk Burger and Heinrich Brussow. The Lions paid the price for not fielding a fetcher in the first two Tests, and Ireland have similarly opted for three ball-carrying back-rowers. South Africa have a ball-stealing specialist in Brussow and in Burger another player capable of disrupting the opposition at the breakdown. It’s a crucial partnership, and one that will slow and render the dangerous Irish attack impotent.

Defence is going to be so crucial with the Irish boasting line-breakers of Brian O’Driscoll’s quality. Adi Jacobs’ injury was a godsend for the Boks who will now field a midfield combination capable of repelling such a surge. Jean de Villiers should also make his mark in the second half, and despite the long season and talk of fatigue, the Boks have the bench to maintain an 80-minute effort.

Ireland are at home and have the brisk and blustery conditions in their favour, but the recent events could work to the Boks’ advantage. Most view the French defeat as a wake-up call, while some of the players have spoken off the record about the Irish scalp as one the Boks desperately want to capture. It would be a fitting end to a magnificent year.

It’s going to be an absorbing clash between two sides with contrasting styles, but you can’t help but feel the Boks have one match-winning performance left in them.

Prediction: Boks by 5

Ireland – 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (c), 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Tomas O’Leary, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O’Connell, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Cian Healy.
Subs: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Sean O’Brien, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Gordon D’Arcy.

Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Dewald Potgieter, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Jean de Villiers.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

The Boks are on the verge of their most important tour fixture, but have taken it relatively easy since arriving in Dublin. Eight injury concerns on Sunday saw coach Peter de Villiers canceling Monday’s training, and the Boks haven’t exactly gone hammer and tongs in the remaining sessions.

It’s been a taxing year for the victors of a British & Irish Lions series and Tri-Nations tournament, but vice-captain Matfield explained that the break was very necessary. It’s the same strategy the Boks employed before their clash with England last November, which they went on to win 42-6.

‘I think it’s great that we’ve had an easy week,’ Matfield told keo.co.za. ‘ We’ve had a long year and we know what we’re capable of. There’s only one game remaining and nothing is going to change now. We had a similar week in the build up to that England match and it ensured we were mentally refreshed by game day.

‘Everyone is looking forward to this game. It’s by no stretch a World Championship clash like some of the press have suggested. It’s just another Test, but it’s one we really want to win.’

Matfield said this doesn’t mean the Boks are underestimating their opponents, and confirmed the tourists are still hurting after that loss to France. South Africa were completely dominated by the Tricolores, and the players later admitted the hosts’ brutal physicality took them completely by surprise.

‘We’re a side that likes to dominate our opponents physically,’ said Matfield. ‘France weren’t just physical, their work rate was very good and they were very quick to the breakdowns. We need to ensure we bring that physicality into the Ireland game and commit enough men to the breakdowns.

‘We need to get it together for this match, as we’ll need to be at our best to beat a quality Irish side.’

The lineout mastermind had the wood over Irish counterpart Paul O’Connell in the Lions series as South Africa ruled at this set-piece. To ensure history repeats itself, the Boks can’t afford to be complacent.

‘Paul is a great player and a great leader, and I’m sure it’s going to be another great match-up,’ said Matfield. ‘He had a lot of ball carries in that Lions series, and I was watching the footage of the lineouts the other day – he made some very good calls.’

Gert Smal, who worked with Matfield from 2004 to 2007 as the Boks forwards coach, has made a significant impact since joining the Ireland squad. Matfield believes his influence will be evident in Saturday’s game.

‘Gert’s an awesome coach, probably one of the best I’ve ever worked with. He knows all the [Bok lineout] calls from the past 10 years, so the pressure is on me to make the right call at the right time.

‘He also knows how I like to contest, so they will try and counter that. I’ll have to adapt on the day, and there are one or two different things we have worked on ourselves.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

Smit played down the shift when probed on the matter. On a tour marred by poor scrumming and front-row injuries, the Springboks have lost Gurthro Steenkamp, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis and most recently Adriaan Strauss. Bismarck du Plessis has had a rib concern, while CJ van der Linde has just recovered from a hamstring ailment.

The string of injuries sees Smit reverting to the position where many experts, including former team-mate Os du Randt, feel he’s best.

‘It’s been awhile since I’ve played hooker – I think my last start was in the Super 14. Hopefully it’s just like riding a bicycle,’ Smit told keo.co.za.

‘It’s going to be an epic Test. They’re the Six Nations champions and we’ve enjoyed a good year, so it’s going to be tough.’

Peter de Villiers has also selected BJ Botha at tighthead and Beast Mtawarira at loosehead after this front-row combination impressed in the closing stages of the Italy Test. De Villiers, however, refused to say whether this combination would be retained in future matches.

‘We now have a lot of options and can opt for a horse for courses approach,’ the Bok coach said. ‘The front row we’ve selected is perfect for how we want to play against Ireland.’

Botha (Ulster), Van der Linde (Leinster) and Jean de Villiers (Munster) all play their club rugby in Ireland, and are included despite the policy that frowns on the selection of overseas-based players.

Peter de Villiers said this stance was relaxed given the number of injuries and the fact that the trio were playing in Ireland.

‘We will always look inside our own country first. If we can’t find someone good enough, only then will we look outside.

‘We are fortunate that Jean was here and thought it would be stupid to fly a replacement out from South Africa. He knows the system and it’s not even three months since he last played for South Africa.’

Other changes to the pack see Danie Rossouw shifted to No 8 in place of Ryan Kankowski while Schalk Burger returns from a rib injury. Bakkies Botha is still battling a back injury but is named in the starting side.

De Villiers said the change at No 8 is down to injury and not because of the physicality Rossouw can bring to the contest.

‘Kanko got a bump against Italy and we’ve decided to manage him,’ said De Villiers, even though Kankowski trained with the Boks on Thursday. ‘It’s going to be a tough Super 14 so we have to think of the player as well.’

Wynand Olivier is preferred in the centres with Jean de Villiers warming the bench. De Villiers was a late replacement for injured centre Adi Jacobs.

Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Dewald Potgieter, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Jean de Villiers.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

De Villiers knew the deal when he signed for Munster. The northern sojourn represented an opportunity to test his skills in an unfamiliar environment, but it also meant his Springbok career was put on hold. The Bok centre accepted the terms, as he felt it a necessary sacrifice if he was to become a better player.

On Wednesday, De Villiers received a phone call that told him that for just one weekend, he could have his cake and eat it. He will continue to play for Munster in the coming months, but because of the injury to Adi Jacobs, he will play for the Springboks against Ireland on Saturday.

‘I was in the gym on Wednesday morning and my coach told me he received a call from Andy Marinos. The call said they might use me against Ireland, and later in the day I got another call to tell me I was in.

‘I always knew what I was getting into when I moved here and I know nothing’s changed. I have no regrets of moving here and want to make a success of my time with Munster. I’m glad to get an opportunity, but I know it’s just for one game,’ he told keo.co.za.

‘I was actually surprised when Peter de Villiers sent the other guys [the dirt-trackers] home, because that really opened it up for me.’

De Villiers will play from the bench this Saturday as will his Munster team-mate O’Gara for the Irish. The two were opponents in the 2009 British & Irish Lions series, but have since become good friends at Munster. He frowned when asked about the alleged animosity between the Bok and Lions players.

‘I know how disappointed ROG was to be dropped for Jonny Sexton,’ said De Villiers. ‘I’ll probably send him a few more texts before the Test just to rib him. It’s going to be a great day for me, because I get to play for my country and I get to play against some of my mates. I’m sure we’ll have a few beers afterward.

‘I think all the talk of bad blood was unnecessary. I don’t think there was any bad blood and I don’t know where it comes from. I have a lot of friends in Ireland and I’m really looking forward to this game.’

De Villiers also rubbished talk of providing his team-mates with Irish secrets.

‘I suppose I could offer secrets to both sides,’ he joked. ‘Seriously, I don’t know how I would be able to aid the Boks in that respect, we all know the Irish psyche and the way they like to play. We all saw most of them when they toured with the Lions earlier this year.’

The Bok centre is also looking forward to playing against another Munster player in Keith Earls, who will start on the wing in place of the injured Luke Fitzgerald.

‘Keith has all the skills and attributes and has really settled well on the wing. I’m sure he’ll make the most of his opportunity this weekend.

‘I haven’t seen much of Sexton, and it’s a big call to start him ahead of ROG. We’ll see how it works out for them on Saturday, but you have to say Ireland are in a good position if the have ROG on the bench.’

Aside from losing to France, South Africa also failed in the midweek matches against Leicester and Saracens. De Villiers said that these games need to be viewed in context and that a lot of good has come from touring with an extended group.

‘It was disappointing to hear about those losses and I received a lot of chirps when I went to Munster training. But you have to look at what we gained. Some players have put their hands up in those games which is a big positive. Sometimes you have to look past results in games like that. Unfortunately we are a results-driven country, but it’s important to remember there were some good performances.’

De Villiers will reassess his future with Munster in February as he has a clause in his contract that allows him to opt out after one season. With the World Cup just around the corner, a return to South Africa seems likely.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

Botha moved to Ulster in 2008, and like national team-mates Jean de Villiers and CJ van der Linde, was not considered for the Springboks. What seemed a strict policy changed three weeks ago when Van der Linde was called up to aid the injury-ravaged Boks. Botha received a similar phone call from Udine last week, and De Villiers was contacted as recently as Wednesday night.

All three realise that these are extenuating circumstances, and that they will continue to jeopardise their national prospects as long as they’re based abroad. Botha, however, realises he needs to make his mark.

‘I was very surprised to get the call last week,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘I was in South Africa driving home after watching the Saracens match, and I had to make some quick arrangements to get to Europe.

‘I always knew that the decision to come to Ireland would prevent me from playing for the Boks, so it’s great to be given this opportunity. Last week felt like my debut for the Boks and I’m excited to get my “first start” against Ireland.

‘I don’t know when I will get this chance again, so taking my opportunity is very important. That’s my focus for this weekend. My contract expires at the end of May, so I’ll start reassessing my future soon.’

Botha intimated a move to South Africa is likely as he hopes to play for the Boks in 2010 and at the World Cup. Van der Linde told his website he harbours similar ambitions even though captain John Smit holds a monopoly on the No 3 jersey.

‘I’ve enjoyed my time in Ireland, but at the end of the day, I want to play for my country,’ said Botha. ‘The World Cup is a goal to drive for, but you can’t just rock up for that tournament. You have to be involved in the build-up, and I want to be there for that.’

Ireland are Six Nations champions but were embarrassed at scrum time in their recent draw with Australia. Botha feels the Irish scrum isn’t as soft as they’re made out to be. Some critics are already tipping the Boks as favourites in this department, but Botha said it would be folly to underestimate the hosts.

‘The Irish are tough up front. You have to be a strong scrummaging side if you’re going to play in the northern hemisphere, and you have to be strong if you’re going to win the Six Nations. It’s going to be a big challenge for us.

‘I think their is a lot of potential in our scrum. There were a lot of new roles assumed on this tour, and you just need to give them time to nurture. Scrumming is an eight-man effort which is something people tend to forget.’

The Bok scrum improved dramatically when Botha and Beast Mtawarira entered the fray in the latter stages of the Udine Test. Smit also reverted to hooker, and suddenly the visitors’ scrum was dominating that of the much feared Italians.

The same combination that finished in Udine will start in Dublin, and Botha’s grateful to have picked up that momentum.

‘The media were hammering the Bok scrum before that Test and we just wanted to go out and prove everyone wrong. We need to carry that performance through to this week and ensure our set-piece remains solid.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

The Boks beat the British & Irish Lions 2-1, but the series was not without error. Peter de Villiers came under fire for his suspect use of the Bok bench, and the biggest criticism centred around the subbing of backline kingpin Jean de Villiers.

Instead of swapping one outside centre for another, the Bok coach shifted Jacobs to No 12 and introduced Jaque Fourie at No 13. Jacobs was targeted with the Lions midfield pairing of Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll attacking his channel. Because Jacobs was driven back so often, the men on his outside, including Fourie, were placed on the back foot. The pressure the Lions exerted on Jacobs enabled the visitors to cut the line out wide.

Peter de Villiers had plans to persist with this combination in the Tri-Nations given Jean de Villiers was set to join Irish club Munster. Jacobs suffered an injury in the build up to the first match against the All Blacks in Bloemfontein, and fortunately, the Jean and Jaque midfield combination was restored. It’s one of the reasons the Bok defence was so impressive during this tournament, as the opponents battled to make substantial ground in De Villiers’ channel.

Since the Stormers centre’s departure, however, the Bok coaching staff has revisited the Jacobs/Fourie midfield combination. Jacobs battled against a French barrage in Toulouse and was part of an awful mix-up that led to an Italian try in Udine.

Before their final fixture against Ireland, the Boks have caught a break. Jacobs is out of the tour with an ankle injury, allowing De Villiers to resume his position.

There will be eyebrows raised if De Villiers is named to start given he hasn’t featured for the Boks since the final Tri-Nations match. But it’s a set-up he understands well, and his experience would be a boost for such a big clash.

You have to feel for Wynand Olivier, who should have been the logical alternative to De Villiers all along. He enjoyed a dream run in the Bulls’ Super 14 campaign playing alongside the halfback pair that have since traded powder blue shirts for those coloured green and gold. As an individual, Olivier was impressive, but as part of that No 9, 10 and 12 triumvirate, he was outstanding.

Olivier lacks the kicking game required of the modern No 12, but it’s his only shortcoming. He showed against Saracens what he’s capable of defensively (Derick Hougaard bears the bruises as testament), and is the ideal kind of player for the Boks’ game plan – which is not unlike the Bulls’ strategy.

Olivier partnered Fourie in the third Test against the Lions. The Test was a disaster in many aspects, but it’s disappointing that this midfield combination wasn’t given more opportunity to develop. Even now with Jacobs out, De Villiers returns, and the big loser is Olivier.

The Irish enjoy a fast-paced game and all first-phase ball would have been directed down Jacobs’ channel with the robust Jamie Heaslip sure to lead the charge. Why? Because they know they’re guaranteed to make ground. Jacobs may affect a tackle, but he’s failed if the opposition gain five to 10 metres in the process.

With De Villiers replacing the injured Jacobs, the Irish will be forced to rethink their tactics. The Boks stand an excellent chance of repelling an Irish surge if De Villiers and Fourie are standing in the centres.

Stopping power is what’s required. The Boks need to slow the Irish down this Saturday; they have to cut down the hosts’ space. A big defensive effort is what will earn a win and render this tour a relative success. In realising that goal, Peter de Villiers needs to pick players that are up to the task.

Olivier has the ability, but if you have Jean De Villiers available, you have to play him. He knows the Irish players well having played against them in the Lions series and at club level for Munster.

It may seem crazy to pluck a player from the international wilderness just two days before kickoff, but given what De Villiers has achieved alongside the incumbent backline players in 2009, you wouldn’t expect them to lack synergy at Croke Park.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

Jacobs rolled his ankle badly in the Springboks’ recent win over Italy and will take no further part in the tour. De Villiers, who is currently playing his rugby in Ireland for Munster, will take his place in the squad.

Bok coach Peter de Villiers said the former Stormers captain is likely to feature at Croke Park, but would not say whether he or Wynand Olivier would start at No 12.

‘You’ll have to wait until Thursday when I name the team,’ he told this website.

Bakkies Botha went to see a specialist for his back problem this week and De Villiers is hopeful the big man will recover in time for Saturday’s Test.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

The Springboks have underperformed on this tour, but they haven’t been helped by some substandard refereeing. Wayne Barnes had a forgettable game in Toulouse while James Jones showed he wasn’t up to it in the midweek fixture at Wembley.

There has been some concern around the Boks’ scrumming, but De Villiers has maintained there are no problems. The Bok coach has also publicly lamented the lack of explanation forthcoming from the IRB. As De Villiers has reasoned, if they don’t know why they were penalised, how are they supposed to avoid a similar infringement in the very next outing.

De Villiers met with IRB referee chief Paddy O’Brien in Dublin on Wednesday to discuss such issues. After a productive meeting, the Bok coach is confident that the days of confusion are over.

De Villiers told keo.co.za that he feels referees should be accountable for their calls, and shouldn’t be so strictly guarded by the IRB. ‘We need to put the pressure back on the referees to ensure the standards are high,’ he said.

According to the Bok coach, penalties for scrum infringements were never explained in the aftermath. The IRB would send a copy of the law, which didn’t help if the Boks didn’t realise exactly what they were doing wrong.

After Wednesday’s discussion, De Villiers said O’Brien and the IRB will address any issues raised by the Boks (or the opposition for that matter) on the Monday and get back to the team by Wednesday. This feedback will include details for every penalty so adjustments can be made before the next match.

De Villiers said Wednesday is not too late a day to receive feedback.

‘I’m very happy with that. You don’t need a lot of time to make those kinds of adjustments, because they are very small.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

There was a clamour of concern before the Boks departed South Africa. Medical experts claimed they had endured too much rugby, and a three-Test tour could only end in disaster.

The Boks looked tired in their loss to France, and have been paddled in the two midweek games against Leicester and Saracens. They managed a win over Italy last Saturday, but there are still doubts of their ability to front against the Six Nations champions.

‘The French caught us off guard in Toulouse, but that’s just one game,’ Du Preez told keo.co.za. ‘If you think about the success we’ve enjoyed this season, you can’t say we’re vulnerable after one loss.

‘We weren’t up for what was a very passionate performance by the French, and they were better than us on the day. We showed what we’re capable of against Italy last weekend.

‘We can’t take responsibility for the two midweek losses, so you have to look at things in perspective, we’ve only had that one loss.’

Du Preez injured his hand in the Italy Test, but is confident he’ll start in South Africa’s final fixture of 2009. The Boks scrumhalf came through training on Tuesday with no complications, and coach Peter de Villiers will be relieved to know his star player is available. He delivered a solid showing in Udine, even though his forwards were backpedaling.

‘Most of the year the pack has been going forward, so that’s made it easier for me,’ he said. ‘There have been occasions on this tour where the forwards have struggled, but this Saturday they’ll have another opportunity to show what they’re made of.’

Ireland are full of beans ahead of this clash, their media claiming the Boks are there for the taking and young players like Keith Earls also underlining the tourists’ vulnerability.

Characteristically cool, Du Preez had a subtle dig at Ireland’s presumption.

‘They’ve done well over the last two years if you think they didn’t make the quarter-finals at the World Cup,’ he said with a deadpan expression. ‘They’ve done very well at club and international level and have some great individuals.

‘They’re a very physical side, a well balanced side and I’m sure they’ll play with plenty of passion.’

The two teams will meet for a formal dinner on Saturday where the IRB Player of the Year is set to be announced. Both Du Preez and Brian O’Driscoll are in the running, but the South African said he feels no pressure to outdo the Irish captain on this particular occasion.

‘Brian’s had a great season, and to be honest, I had one of the best seasons of my career. But it’s just another Test and won’t be about personal battles.

‘It’s not about personal accolades for me, it’s about the team. We really want to win this Test and finish the year on a high.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

The Springboks arrived on Sunday but only trained for the first time on Tuesday. They’ll have another three sessions before meeting Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday, and the kickers have their work cut out if they’re going to adjust.

‘It was swirling when he got off the plane on Sunday,’ Steyn told keo.co.za. ‘Fourie du Preez and I walked to the terminal together and we chatted about it. We told the forwards they’re going to have to protect the ball a lot more. These aren’t easy conditions to play in.’

The forecast for Saturday is a brisk 6 degrees Celsius, and although Croke Park is usually quite sheltered, the wind could be a factor. Jonny Sexton and Rob Kearney, both from local Dublin club Leinster, will know how to exploit the wind, and this could decisive in the crucial battle for territory.

‘The tactical kicking battle is going to be very important,’ said Steyn. ‘It’s helps to have one of the best scrumhalves in the world on my inside. I know he’s going to make the right decisions 90% of the time, and it takes the pressure off me.

‘The Irish have some very impressive players like Brian O’Driscoll in their side. I don’t know a lot about Sexton, but if he’s keeping O’Gara out of the side, he must be useful.’

It’s been a magic year for Steyn, who won a Bok call-up after his inspiring performance in the Bulls’ successful Super 14 campaign. He’s since helped the Boks to a win over the British & Irish Lions and a Tri-Nations crown. Personally, he captured three awards at South Africa’s annual prizegiving, namely The Players’ Player, Super 14 Player and Player of the Lions Series awards.

‘It’s been an awesome year. There’s been highlights like that last kick in that second Test against the Lions, and scoring 31 points against the All Blacks [in Durban].

‘Above my personal achievements, we’ve had an awesome year as a team, and we want to end on a high note this weekend.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

Stephen Ferris, David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip will start for the hosts this Saturday in a back row combination that has three good ball-carriers, but zero ball stealers. Wallace was asked to play this role for the British & Irish Lions, and was outclassed by the smaller yet superior Brüssow.

Brüssow has been a standout player for the Boks in an unforgettable year, but has also been a consistent performer on a disappointing tour to Europe. His breakdown expertise is required if the Boks are to frustrate a mobile Irish pack.

‘They have a great loose trio,’ Brüssow told keo.co.za. ‘They have some big ball-carriers, but Heaslip and Wallace can also fetch a bit. I played for the Cheetahs against Ferris in that Lions tour match, and what impressed me was his speed. It’s a very good balance.

‘They have a very physical pack, so we are going to have to look after the ball. It is harder playing in these conditions.’

Apart from the wind and rain that afflicts the north over winter, touring teams also have to contend with a differing interpretation at the breakdown. Brüssow said he’s used to adjusting to various interpretations having played two full seasons under the hybrid ELVs. Referees battled for consistency under these laws, so players had to adapt quickly.

‘Different refs blow the ruck situation differently, so you have to make a judgment in the first few minutes of how to play the game,’ said Brüssow. ‘It’s something I’ve got used to.’

Welshman Nigel Owens will handle Saturday’s Test at Croke Park.

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

Team doctor Craig Roberts delivered the bad news on Monday. He refused to rule out anyone for the final Test at Croke Park, but the injury list means the Boks will not announce their team until Thursday.

‘Zane Kirchner took a knock to the knee against Italy,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘Adi Jacobs rolled his ankle quite badly and somebody fell on Fourie du Preez’s hand. Bakkies Botha has a stiff back that was exacerbated by the flight to Dublin. Adriaan Strauss has also tweaked something in his back.

‘CJ van der Linde still has the hamstring worry from the Saracens game, while Bismarck du Plessis and Schalk Burger still have the rib cartillage concerns. We [the medical team] have a busy week ahead of us, but we will give these players every opportunity to prove their fitness.’

Coach Peter de Villiers said the decision to cancel Monday’s training session was a no-brainer.

‘The doc brought me this lengthy list on Sunday, and I thought why waste time with only half of the team available? We’ve had a few indoor sessions and finished our video sessions, so while we haven’t been on the field, we have been doing valuable work.’

The Boks could effectively field a third team this Saturday if the aforementioned players fail to recover. De Villiers refuses to be negative, and will not call for any replacements.

‘It depends on how you want to look at it,’ he began, ‘you can look at it as unsettling or you can look at it as a blessing.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin

The locals are billing the clash as the champions of the north versus the champions of the south, and there’s the added incentive of revenge for the defeat in the British & Irish Lions series. After the Boks won the series in Pretoria, De Villiers said the management failed to congratulate the South Africans, and captain John Smit has highlighted a few examples of their poor sportsmanship in his book, Captain in the Cauldron.

De Villiers feels there is no lasting issue and Saturday’s fixture is by no means a grudge match. If it’s being portrayed that way, it’s purely on the part of the UK and Irish media.

‘The bad blood thing is something you guys [the UK and Irish media] came up with,’ De Villiers said at a press conference. ‘We extend an invitation to every team after a game to come join us in the dressing room for a beer. They never accepted. Maybe they don’t like South African beer.

‘There was nothing extraordinary that happened on the field that would warrant this ‘bad blood’ thing. Most reports have been overhyped. The media over here [in Ireland and Britain] are just looking for things to pick at. The physical thing is something that’s also blown out of proportion. You show me a rugby game that’s not physical. If you took physicality out of it, what would the game be?

‘If anyone loses they are going to be disappointed, and they’re going to feel great if they win. We don’t all have the same mental approach though, and so some people will move on right away after a loss, while some may take two or three days to recover.’

De Villiers confirmed that both teams will meet for dinner on Saturday night at a function that will double as the IRB’s announcement of their annual awards. The Bok coach maintains there is a great respect for this Irish side, on and off the field.

‘Ireland are a very good team and the bulk of them represented the Lions. You could say the Lions were the Irish in camouflage, but I think Ireland will be better than the Lions.’

With all the injuries and the amount of rugby this Bok side has endured, they will be the underdogs at Croke Park. De Villiers said there’s nothing at stake in this fixture bar winning a Test for South Africa. In other words, the local media’s billings mean nothing to the Bok camp.

‘We treat every game the same. It’s all about our own country. Winning on Saturday would only mean one more win for us, but no international game is less important than the next. We have 43 million people back home who back winners and we don’t want to disappoint them.

‘If we want to be tired, we will be tired, and if we want to play we will play. For us, it’s about fulfilling our obligation.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin