Josh van der Flier says Ireland will need to be more than just physical when they take on South Africa this evening.
The Six Nations champions face the reigning world champions in Paris tonight (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player), looking to take a big step towards a place in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup.
With the Springboks presenting arguably the biggest physical challenge in the game, the pre-match analysis has focused on whether or not Ireland will hold their own in the tight exchanges, a question for which Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell is in no doubt of the answer.
However, with South Africa having added a greater variety to their attack in the last 18 months under incoming Leinster coach Jacques Nienaber, the flanker says there is more to the Springboks than meets the eye.
"They're definitely a very physical team, something we’ve become very used to from any South African team they put out, it’s certainly part of their DNA," he said.
"I think every game has a lot of physicality to it, so we know we’ll have to be at our best in that area, and then there’s the things Paulie [O'Connell] talked about, they’re very smart, they come up with some good plays as well.
"It’s not just the physical confrontation they bring, they also have a lot of different things outside that. Of course, we’ll need physicality but we’ll need a good all-round performance in every area."
The breakdown is likely to be key in deciding the game, with Ireland enjoying the fastest ruck ball in the tournament so far, averaging under three seconds per ruck.
But with South Africa having seven forwards on the bench, including jackal threats like Deon Fourie, Kwagga Smith and Marco van Staden, Van der Flier knows he and his teammates will have to be accurate in protecting their own ball.
"There's some quality all throughout the South African team especially the breakdown threat, certainly any time I hope to be involved we’re trying to stop them getting turnovers or competing our ball. That goes across the whole team, everyone has a role to play in that.
"It’s obviously a huge threat and something that has worked pretty well for South Africa and South African teams in the URC as well.
"It’ll definitely be a huge challenge and something we looked at earlier in the week, but I suppose now we’re just thinking about trying to look at our own performance and trying to be as good as we can be and hopefully that stops them having an effect on the game."
Ireland's starting pack for this evening's game shows just one change from the eight that began the 19-16 win against the Boks last November, a game in which Van der Flier scored the opening try.
There had been suggestions that the world player of the year would be on the bench at the Stade de France, if head coach Andy Farrell had been tempted to put Tadhg Beirne into the back row, allowing them to start an extra lock.
Instead, Farrell chose to retain his starting pack from last week's win against Tonga, and Van der Flier says they have full faith in the coach's selections.
"I think Andy and the coaches have been great.
"They trust everyone who is in the squad, and the way we play is that anyone can come in and do a good job, there's quality all throughout the team so I think whoever is picked there is full confidence from all the players and coaches that they'll be able to do a good job.
"I’m glad to be in, and anyone who has the opportunity to play is unbelievably excited."
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