BBC Sounds

You can listen to today's game on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

Chris Jones and former Ireland forward Donnacha O'Callaghan will be live on Sports Extra.

On Radio Ulster, you can join Gareth Steenson, Grace Davitt and presenter Orla Bannon.

Ian Humphreys is on commentary with Jim Neilly.

You won't miss the South African players warming up in those colourful warm-up shirts.

They're more of a summer number so they're really standing out in the Dublin cold.

Image source, Getty Images

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What do we reckon about Christmas decorations in November? We're not even near the end of the month.

It's a Bah Humbug from me.

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Ireland's preparations for the Test against South Africa will not be affected by the world champions' grievances with recent refereeing decisions, says defence coach Simon Easterby.

On Monday, backs coach Mzwandile Stick claimed the Springboks have been treated unfairly in recent games after locks Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert were shown straight red cards against France and Italy.

Mostert will face a World Rugby disciplinary hearing, while South Africa have appealed De Jager's four-match suspension, but Easterby insists Ireland are not overly concerned with matters outside of their camp.

"I think there's been a bit of debate around the yellow card, red cards, 20-minute red cards in all the games across the last three or four weeks," he said.

"We're not immune to that, we understand it's happening, we can only control what we can control. I don't think anyone takes a huge amount of notice as to what's been said outside of your own camp and they'd probably be the same.

"If they've got grievances, that's something they'd take up with World Rugby and it won't affect what we prepare for."

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South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick claims the Springboks have been treated unfairly following red-card incidents in their wins over France and Italy.

Lood de Jager was handed a four-game suspension after being sent off for a high tackle on France full-back Thomas Ramos in Paris, while Franco Mostert was given a straight red card for a shoulder-to-head challenge on Italy's Paolo Garbisi in Turin last weekend, but is free to play after his hearing.

"Every week we are losing players and it's sad," Stick told reporters in Dublin before South Africa's Test against Ireland on Saturday.

He added: "I don't want to say things and then end up also being banned like Rassie [Erasmus, head coach] in the past.

"We've never talked bad about other teams. We always try and play in a good spirit, and hopefully things can just be between the four lines. Are we treated fairly? I don't think so."

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South Africa second row Franco Mostert is free to face Ireland after his permanent red card for a high hit was rescinded.

The 34-year-old was dismissed after 11 minutes of the Springboks' 32-14 win over Italy last weekend, with referee James Doleman judging that there had been a high degree of danger in Mostert's tackle on fly-half Paolo Garbisi and a straight shoulder, with no attempt to "wrap" his arms, meant no mitigation could be applied to the incident.

However, a three-person disciplinary committee determined that, although Mostert had made contact with Garbisi's head, he initially hit lower down.

"[Head contact] was found to be secondary to the initial shoulder contact and made with much lower force and without the requisite level of 'danger' required under World Rugby's Head Contact Process to make the offending reach the red card threshold," the committee wrote after reviewing replays and evidence from Mostert.

South Africa are already missing Mostert's fellow second row Lood de Jager for the meeting with Ireland after De Jager was sent off for a similar incident in the Springboks' win over France a fortnight ago and banned for the rest of the autumn internationals.

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It's been a perfect autumn for the Springboks, who have won all of their three matches in November.

That's impressive enough, but winning two of them with 14 men is quite something.

Lood de Jager was dismissed shortly before half-time while 14-13 down against France, but the Springboks powered to a famous win in Paris.

The, against Italy, Franco Mostert was shown a straight red card after 11 minutes but the world champions came through to win 32-14 in Rome.

Image source, Inpho

It'll be all white on the night.

Instead of their traditional green, Ireland will line out in their alternate white jersey for today's game.

That last photo of Jack Conan just brought back horrible memories of trying to do a live text where Ireland's alternate kit was just as close to South Africa as their normal green.

What on earth were they thinking?

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland round off their autumn against world champions South Africa, who Jack Conan says are "deservedly the best in the world".

After winning the Rugby Championship, the Springboks have won all three of their November matches in the northern hemisphere and will look to claim a tour clean sweep in Dublin after wins over Japan at Wembley, France and Italy.

Ireland famously stunned South Africa in the group stages of the 2023 World Cup before the Springboks rallied to win the tournament, and the sides drew a summer series in 2024.

"They are a good team, aren't they?" Conan said.

"You can see what they are doing with the bench and how they apply their forwards.

"They are changing the game and it is great to see. It's innovation, it's interesting and it's getting eyeballs on the game."

The biggest concern for the Springboks has been discipline in their last two matches. Lood de Jager was sent off for a reckless tackle against France, and Franco Mostert was dismissed on Saturday against the Italians.

Despite being a man down for the majority of both matches, Rassie Erasmus' side came through to win both times.

"They are going really well. They were probably disappointed with their red cards over the last few weeks but they are an unbelievably physical side and deservedly the best in the world," Leinster back row Conan added.

"They will be a huge challenge for us and we love a challenge. We love having to be better.

"It's probably never been as enjoyable to play for Ireland as it has been right now."

Will South Africa finally get that elusive win over Ireland in Dublin under Rassie Erasmus or will Andy Farrell's side end the year with a statement win?

Let us know your predictions using the Get Involved button on this page.

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Are these South African players really big, or is this just a really small elephant?

Supporters for both sides are wrapped up well for this one in Dublin.

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Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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For all that South Africa have achieved as the dominant international team of their era, there remains a box unchecked by Rassie Erasmus' side.

The number one-ranked team in the world have been hoovering up silverware in recent years, winning consecutive editions of both the World Cup and Rugby Championship.

Aside from lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in Yokohama and Paris, the much-travelled Springboks have won Test matches all over the world.

While inflicting a record defeat on New Zealand in Wellington this summer naturally garnered the most attention, across the past two autumns their record in the northern hemisphere reads played six, won six, with away victories against all but one of the Six Nations teams.

Ireland, who host South Africa at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, are the lone exception.

Of the XV that will take the field in Dublin on Saturday, only Eben Etzebeth - South Africa's most-capped player - was involved when they last won a Test in the city back in 2012.

And after arriving in Ireland for the fourth of his side's five autumn Tests, the imposing lock noted that this was the fixture that jumped out in a packed schedule.

"When we received the calendar at the beginning of the year, this fixture was definitely one that stood out, so we're excited," he said.

"It's going to be a good match. We haven't won here in a while, so it's a nice opportunity for us."

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Now, it's definitely not my place to be telling a World Cup-winning Springbok what to do.

But if I was Bongi Mbonami I would definitely check out the Ireland Rugby Social on BBC Sounds.

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Ireland captain Caelan Doris admits there is "a lot on the line" for his side in today's climactic autumn Test against world champions South Africa.

Having started the November campaign with a disappointing loss to New Zealand in Chicago, Ireland bounced back with comfortable wins over Japan and Australia in Dublin.

But a victory over the back-to-back World Cup winners would give Ireland a major boost leading into the 2026 Six Nations.

"The success of this November hinges a little bit on our performance this weekend," said Doris.

"The momentum has built nicely as the weeks have gone on, but this is the real test now so there's a lot of excitement for it."

Like with the All Blacks, Ireland have enjoyed an intense rivalry with the Springboks in recent years, with Andy Farrell's side winning three of the past four meetings.

"There's definitely a rivalry there," added Doris.

"There's a strong understanding of how we both want to play the game. We've had some good results, they've beaten us over there in 2024.

"There's a lot on the line tomorrow, that's the feeling anyway, and the lads are excited for it."

Image source, Inpho

Ireland coach John Fogarty is ready to win by whatever means necessary.

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Tommy O'Brien says he hasn't "felt out of place" in the Ireland set-up since winning his first cap in the summer.

The Leinster wing scored two tries in each of the summer tour games against Georgia and Portugal, and has started in all of Ireland's autumn series games to date, bringing his cap tally to five.

In last week's 46-19 win over Australia, the 27-year-old's play-making ability shone through as he laid on a try for Mack Hansen and with five starts in as many games, feels he can make an impact when given the chance.

"I've loved and embraced any opportunity I've gotten," said O'Brien, who will start today.

"These November games are obviously a step up from the summer, but I haven't felt out of place. It feels like where I belong and I can definitely contribute to the team."

Image source, Inpho

Ireland eased injury concerns over full-back Mack Hansen before today's much-anticipated Test against world champions South Africa.

Normally a right winger, Hansen scored a hat-trick in last week's win over the Wallabies from full-back with Hugo Keenan and Jamie Osborne out injured.

Retained at 15 for the Springboks' visit to Dublin, Hansen's right hand and index finger were heavily strapped during Ireland's training session at Aviva Stadium on Friday.

When Caelan Doris was asked about the Connacht player's fitness, an Irish Rugby Football Union spokesperson interjected to confirm Hansen had "trained fully".

"Everyone is good, yeah," added Doris.

Ireland Rugby

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made four changes to his starting line-up for today's eagerly anticipated Test against world champions South Africa.

Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier are recalled after missing the wins over Australia and Japan because of hamstring problems.

Van der Flier's return to open-side flanker means captain Caelan Doris switches to number eight and Jack Conan drops to the bench.

Ringrose will be partnered in midfield by Bundee Aki, who will make his first Ireland start since the Six Nations defeat by France in March.

Stuart McCloskey, who started last week's thumping win over Australia, was ruled out earlier this week with a recurrence of the groin injury he picked up in the defeat by the All Blacks.

Robbie Henshaw, who impressed at outside centre against Australia, is out with a hamstring issue, meaning Tom Farrell - who made his debut against Japan earlier this month - is named as centre cover on the bench.

Andrew Porter returns at loose-head prop with Paddy McCarthy having been preferred against Australia.

Sam Prendergast is retained at fly-half after impressing against Australia, while Mack Hansen keeps the full-back spot after scoring a first-half hat-trick of tries in the 46-19 defeat of the Wallabies.

Ireland: M Hansen; T O'Brien, G Ringrose, B Aki, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong, J Ryan, T Beirne, R Baird, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt).

Replacements: R Kelleher, P McCarthy, F Bealham, C Prendergast, J Conan, C Casey, J Crowley, T Farrell.