Summary

  • Ireland 7-19 South Africa (17:40 GMT)

  • Listen on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Radio Ulster

  • Damian Willemse touches down in the corner and Cobus Reinarch adds second try before penalty try awarded

  • Dan Sheehan scores before half-time after James Ryan shown 20-minute red card

  • Ireland have won four of the past five matches between the sides

  • South Africa have not won in Dublin since 2012, suffering defeats in 2014, 2017 and 2022

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  1. Postpublished at 17:33 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Here come the teams into the cauldron of noise.

    This feels big. Really, really big.

    RG Snyman gets a nice moment as he leads the players out on his 50th Springbok cap, and the rest of the players follow suit.

  2. Farrell bristles at 'loaded' Prendergast questionspublished at 17:32 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Sam Prendergast and Andy FarrellImage source, Getty Images

    Ireland head coach Andy Farrell hit back at "loaded questions" as he defended fly-half Sam Prendergast before today's Test against world champions South Africa.

    Prendergast started last week's 46-19 win over Australia after Jack Crowley wore the number 10 jersey against New Zealand and Japan.

    While Leinster's Prendergast shone in attack against the Wallabies, the 22-year-old's weakness in the tackle was exposed when Len Ikitau barged past him to score Australia's first try.

    Asked if he wanted to see more physicality from Prendergast, Farrell said: "I understand the question and it's a question that obviously keeps popping up, but I think Sam's ability as a fly-half far outweighs a work-on within his game.

    "I thought he was tremendous last week, his skillset has been fantastic for all to see and I think everyone needs to look through a little bit of a work-on because everyone's got work-ons and will continue to have work-ons throughout.

    "That's up to us as coaches and the rest of the players to keep on working on them."

    Pressed if he had spoken to Prendergast about his technique and body position, Farrell responded: "I understand your question again, but they're loaded questions, do you know what I mean?

    "Because then it's obvious we have to talk about that, but your question could be asked about any single player throughout.

    "Of course, we constantly talk to individuals about all aspects of their play, so to think that we're just focusing on one aspect of one player is not right.

    "For example, I spoke to our two leaders yesterday about certain aspects of their game. I'm talking about Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan, world-class players, and they agree with their work-ons, so it's constant throughout for every single member of every single squad in world rugby."

  3. Postpublished at 17:31 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Jonathan Bradley
    BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Aviva Stadium

    Looks like there'll be plenty of support for the world champions in Dublin tonight.

    A big number wearing Springbok rather than Ireland green in the Aviva Stadium.

  4. Postpublished at 17:30 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Caleb Clarke scores a tryImage source, Getty Images

    It's all over in Cardiff, and New Zealand maintain seven decades of dominance against Wales with a comfortable seven-try 26-52 victory at the Principality Stadium.

    Wings Caleb Clarke and Sevu Reece scored two tries each with full-back Ruben Love, prop Tamaiti Williams and centre Rieko Ioane also crossing, supplemented by 17 points from Damian McKenzie's boot.

    Tom Rogers became the first Welshman to score a hat-trick against New Zealand, while fellow wing Louis Rees-Zammit also crossed.

    Steve Tandy's side produced a spirited display as they scored the most amount of points against New Zealand in Cardiff but they also conceded 50 points at home for the third time this year.

    Wales were made to pay for their indiscipline with yellow cards for Gareth Thomas and Taine Plumtree as the hosts were overwhelmed by the relentless New Zealand attack.

    Inspired by dynamic number eight Wallace Sititi, it was a 34th successive victory in this fixture for the All Blacks in a winning sequence that stretches back to 1953.

  5. BBC coveragepublished at 17:28 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    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.

  6. Postpublished at 17:28 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    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.

    Sacha Feinberg-MngomezuluImage source, Getty Images
  7. Postpublished at 17:26 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Ireland fans in DublinImage source, Getty Images

    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.

  8. Springbok grievances won't affect Irish preppublished at 17:24 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    SImon EasterbyImage source, Getty Images

    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."

  9. Postpublished at 17:23 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Lood de JagerImage source, Getty Images

    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."

  10. Mostert red card overturnedpublished at 17:22 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Franco MostertImage source, Getty Images

    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.

  11. Seeing redpublished at 17:20 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Lood de Jager red cardImage source, Getty

    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.

  12. Postpublished at 17:19 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Match day programmeImage 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.

  13. Postpublished at 17:18 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    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?

  14. Postpublished at 17:17 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Jack ConanImage 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."

  15. Get Involvedpublished at 17:16 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    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.

  16. Postpublished at 17:13 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    South African players before the team photoImage source, Getty Images

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

  17. Postpublished at 17:12 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

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

    Ireland fansImage source, Getty Images
    South Africa fansImage source, Getty Images
  18. Ireland host world champion Springboks in Dublin 'litmus test'published at 17:11 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Jonathan Bradley
    BBC Sport NI senior journalist

    Rassie ErasmusImage source, Getty Images

    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."

  19. Postpublished at 17:10 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Bombi MbonambiImage source, Getty Images

    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.

  20. Postpublished at 17:09 GMT

    Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)

    Caelan DorisImage source, Getty Images

    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."