INTERNATIONAL INCIDENTS

The Autumn Internationals (or AIs as I will refer to them from now on) are back once more and I’m going to make a confession. I hate them. Complete matter of opinion obviously, but I do, I really do. In my opinion, they are simply a reminder that the international sides are still there – they serve little to no purpose for me.

Maybe I am slightly biased and a bit off the rails though. The AIs do provide IRB World Ranking points and they do give international coaches a chance to try out new players and new combinations before the Six Nations begin. Plus it’s a nice change for the fans to travel down to Dublin and see the best of the Irish take on the southern hemisphere giants.

For Ireland though, I’d limit that to two giants – the Springboks and Argentina. The All Blacks and Australia won’t grace the shores of the Emerald Isle this year, but will hopefully return soon. A Fiji XV will make the trip to Limerick next week instead.

First up are the Springboks on Saturday. Roll up, roll up, it’s time to be counted…

Shamrocks v Springboks

For once, Ireland fans won’t be cheering on the team in green. Because the team in green on Saturday will be South Africa! Ireland, in accordance with rugby tradition, will not line out in green and will wear their black away strip for the first time this weekend instead. Black isn’t a colour I’ve ever really associated with Irish rugby and I’ll be honest, I’m going to be quite interested in what it will look like on the pitch.

A quick mention on the captaincy debate as well before I get into the match itself. The armband has been passed to stand-off Jamie Heaslip and it’s a rather confusing call considering the Leinsterman has had no experience of being a captain at this level before. Although his Leinster team-mate Jonny Sexton was being tipped for the role, Heaslip has been preferred and I have every confidence he will do a good job.

The match itself won’t be as close as some think though. Well, that’s my opinion anyway. The Springboks are a world class side, busting with world class stars at the seams. You know a side is good when they have Morné Steyn ready to rip you to shreds off the bench.

It’ll be a one sided affair. I’m sorry but I think a lot of people can see that by now. One of these sides came very close to beating the All Blacks, while the other was beaten by a resounding 60-0 scoreline. No prizes for guessing which team is attached to which description.

The teams themselves have some interesting selections.

At hooker, it’s a family affair. You’re probably wondering how since it’s Ireland vs. South Africa this week, but if you look at the names then you’ll realise why. Cousins Adrian and Richardt Strauss go head to head in the scrum on opposite sides. Since becoming IQ recently, Richardt has been thrown straight into the action, taking on the role of stand-in hooker in the absence of Rory Best. Look out for that battle on Saturday.

Anybody see JP Pietersen’s press conference earlier this week? Upon being asked what he thought of Ireland’s backs, the quick thinking winger simply shrugged his shoulders and sheepishly admitted he didn’t know the names of any Ireland backs. Whoever said honesty was the best policy will be kicking himself now!

Here’s hoping the Ireland backs will leave a lasting impression on him this time around – one which he’ll take into the next press conference. But with the injury problems Ireland have, it’s a very makeshift back line, highlighted by the choice at full back – Munster winger Simon Zebo, who has little to no experience in that position.

And with injuries in the scrum to Rory Best, Paul O’Connell, Stephen Ferris and Sean O’Brien, it is a rather makeshift scrum as well. Chris Henry gets a long overdue start for Ireland alongside Peter O’Mahony and Jamie Heaslip in the back row, while Michael Bent arrives from New Zealand only to be put straight onto the bench for Saturday’s game since all other tighthead options are injured.

So Ulster have four players in the Ireland 23 – Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Chris Henry and a surprise call-up to the bench for Iain Henderson, although fully deserved for his brilliant form so far. We wish them the best for the game and more importantly, an injury-free one.

Ulster’s representatives aren’t limited to Ireland though, as Ruan Pienaar plays his 61^st game in a Springboks jersey. Even though he is now an ‘enemy’ so to say, we wish him the best, and an injury-free game.

With the side Ireland have been forced to put out and the experience South Africa have got, I can only see this game going one way, as much as I want it to go the other. The AVIVA should be half empty by the 70^th minute. Prediction – Springboks by 19.

AVIVA Stadium, Saturday 10^th November, 17:30

IRELAND: 15. Simon Zebo, 14. Tommy Bowe, 13. Keith Earls, 12. Gordon D’Arcy, 11. Andrew Trimble, 10. Jonny Sexton, 9. Conor Murray; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Richardt Strauss, 3. Mike Ross, 4. Donnacha Ryan, 5. Mike McCarthy, 6. Peter O’Mahony, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Jamie Heaslip (c).

Subs: 16. Sean Cronin, 17. David Kilcoyne, 18. Michael Bent, 19. Donncha O’Callaghan, 20. Iain Henderson, 21. Eoin Reddan, 22. Ronan O’Gara, 23. Fergus McFadden.

SOUTH AFRICA: 15. Zane Kirchner, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Jaco Taute, 12. Jean de Villiers (c), 11. Francois Hougaard, 10. Pat Lambie, 9. Ruan Pienaar; 1. Tendai Mtawarira, 2. Adrian Strauss, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Juandré Kruger, 6. Francois Louw, 7. Willem Alberts, 8. Duane Vermeulen.

Subs: 16. Schalk Brits, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Pat Cilliers, 19. Flip van der Merwe, 20. Marcell Coetzee, 21. Morné Steyn, 22. Juan de Jongh, 23. Lwazi Mvovo.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistants: Steve Walsh (Australia), Luke Pierce (England)
TMO: Giulio de Santis (Italy)

1000 up

Finally, I’d like to say a big thank you to everybody who has read my blog at any stage – it is very much appreciated and it’s fantastic to see that my blog views passed the 1,000 mark last Saturday. Thanks very much and keep on reading – there’s plenty more to come!