South Africa and Eire, two of the favourites for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, meet in an enormous Pool B conflict on the Stade de France on September 23.
Each side maintained their unbeaten data within the second spherical of World Cup fixtures, with Eire placing simply shy of 60 factors previous Tonga earlier than South Africa beat Romania 76-0.
The gaze of each squads can be mounted on profitable the event and successful for both right here will seemingly guarantee a better quarter-final conflict, though with seemingly Pool A qualifiers France and New Zealand mendacity in wait, the benefit will hardly be a giant one.
Earlier than Saturday’s conflict, Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has praised the “aura” of Eire fly-half Johnny Sexton.
When is it?
South Africa v Eire takes place on Saturday, September 23 with the match kicking off at 8pm BST, 9pm native time.
The place is it?
The Stade de France. This stadium was traditionally constructed for the 1998 Fifa World Cup and has been the nationwide stadium for France ever since in addition to the house for the nation’s rugby staff. Les Bleus first performed right here on 7 February 1998, when Philippe Bernat-Salles and the late Christophe Dominici each crossed the whitewash in a 24-17 defeat of England.
It has a capability of 80,023 which is why it has been the stomping floor for therefore many huge matches, in whole, the Stade de France has hosted 97 males’s check matches – together with an RWC 1999 quarter-final and the France 2007 last.
Who’s the referee?
Kiwi referee Ben O’Keefe will take cost of the match. The 2023 Rugby World Cup is O’Keefe’s second as an official after he took cost of three matches on the 2019 event.
Learn how to watch on TV
ITV has unique broadcast rights to point out the Rugby World Cup within the UK. This match is on ITV1.
Learn Telegraph Sport’s evaluation of the most effective TV commentators and pundits.
Radio commentary can be out there solely on the BBC, throughout Radio 5 Dwell, 5 Sports activities Additional and the BBC Sounds service. The BBC says there can be a “bespoke output” in Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire.
How do I get tickets?
To seek out out if tickets are nonetheless out there, click on via to the event’s official ticketing web site.
What’s the current historical past between the groups?
Since 2010, Eire and South Africa have confronted one another eight occasions with every staff profitable 4 matches apiece.
Eire have received the final two conferences – in 2022 and 2017, each of which had been held in Dublin. South Africa had been the winners of the 2 prior clashes.
South Africa lead the general head-to-head between the 2 nations 18-9.
What are their pool matches and outcomes?
Eire
Saturday, September 9: Eire 82 Romania 8, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux
Saturday, September 16: Eire 59 Tonga 16, Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes)
Saturday, 23 September: Eire v South Africa, Stade de France (Paris)
Saturday, October 7: Eire v Scotland, Stade de France (Paris)
South Africa
Sunday, September 10: South Africa 18 Scotland 3, Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)
Sunday, September 17: South Africa 76 Romania 0, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux
Saturday, September 23: South Africa v Eire, Stade de France (Paris)
Sunday October 1: South Africa v Tonga, Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)
What’s the newest information?
Rassie Erasmus has praised the “aura” of Johnny Sexton for Eire forward of their Pool B assembly with South Africa in Paris.
Sexton’s vibrant begin to the Rugby World Cup, turning into Eire’s all-time main factors scorer along with his attempt in opposition to Tonga, has been appreciated within the South African camp.
“He’s very important for my part,” mentioned Erasmus, the Springboks’ director of rugby. “For a person at 38 to attain tries like he did this weekend… so long as he’s bodily on the market, there is no such thing as a doubt about [his influence]. The aura he has about him is outstanding, not only for his personal staff however very intimidating for us because the opposition.”
Erasmus has distanced himself from reviews that he might be part of the Irish Rugby Soccer Union after the Rugby World Cup by changing efficiency director David Nucifora. Erasmus was profitable with Munster earlier than returning to South Africa and main the Springboks to the Rugby World Cup title 4 years in the past.
Nucifora, the Australian who has been in the identical function since 2014, will step down from his place overseeing the success of the nationwide recreation after subsequent yr’s Olympic Video games. Erasmus oversees an identical remit with South Africa, however dismissed the reviews linking him with the Irish function throughout a press convention on Monday.
“No, I received’t be,” Erasmus replied when requested if he could be becoming a member of the IRFU. “There have been no talks and there’s no fact in that. I’m not positive the place it began however undoubtedly not. I haven’t chatted to them and I’m undoubtedly not following Jacques [Nienaber, who is joining Leinster as head coach, replacing Stuart Lancaster].”
Erasmus confirmed that fly-half Handre Pollard wouldn’t be concerned for Saturday’s large recreation with Eire on the Stade de France, after Pollard joined up with the squad on Monday following Malcolm Marx’s damage. Pollard has lately returned from a calf damage, enjoying for Leicester Tigers within the Premiership Rugby Cup over the weekend.
”[Pollard] won’t be chosen for this week aside from if we get two or three accidents,” Erasmus mentioned. “It’s good to have him right here, now he’ll rise up to our depth of coaching classes. I’m positive someplace we are going to use him however not this weekend.”
South Africa will put on a second alternate white package in opposition to Eire, given their present “hyper-jade” alternate package used in opposition to Scotland is just too related in color to Eire’s residence strip.
