It's a dress rehearsal with a difference.
With less than 11 months to go until their crucial game in the Rugby World Cup pool stages, Ireland head into their autumn opener against South Africa looking to prove that size isn’t everything.
It’s the number one side in the world versus the world champions and while the former have scaled new heights under Andy Farrell, their record against physically superior opponents remains a stick to beat them with.
There is no bigger physical test than the one that awaits them at the Aviva Stadium.
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Johnny Sexton believes Ireland are facing the best team in the world this weekend
South Africa are continuing to experiment ahead of the World Cup, with Damian Willemse and Cheslin Kolbe named at out-half and full-back respectively and Duane Vermeulen given the month off, but they have still selected a side jam-packed with power for their first trip to Dublin in five years.
It is a very different challenge compared to what Ireland faced in New Zealand and just what Farrell will have wanted to ensure his squad keeps evolving ahead of France 2023.
The Ireland head coach has selected the same starting pack as the one that made history in Wellington but there are big changes in the backline with only Johnny Sexton, Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan retained.
Keenan has not seen a minute of competitive action in the past 16 weeks but he has plenty of credit in the bank, having rarely put a foot wrong for Ireland, and has done enough in training to persuade Farrell to put him in from the start.
Jamison Gibson-Park has also been sidelined since the third All Blacks Test, which means Conor Murray comes into the run-on side to win his 100th cap. The 33-year-old has copped some unfair criticism in recent years but remains a key part of the squad and his defensive prowess could be key.
Robbie Henshaw’s withdrawal on Friday opened the door for Stuart McCloskey, who is rewarded for his excellent start to the season with Ulster. Henshaw has a brilliant knack of providing go-forward when an attack appears to be stagnating, and McCloskey must fill that void with his direct running and ability to offload in contact. He has an experienced midfield ally in the in-form Garry Ringrose.
In order for Ireland’s backline to prosper, their pack needs to find a way to squeeze the Springboks and provide Murray and Sexton with quick ball. And that’s where the likes of Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony and Josh van der Flier come in.
The Munster pair of Beirne and O'Mahony will look to cause havoc at lineout time, an area where South Africa struggled during the Rugby Championship, while they and the world-class Van der Flier will be key at the breakdown.
The Boks topped the charts for rucks won during the Rugby Championship, with hooker Malcolm Marx winning nine turnovers, and he will be ably assisted by Siya Kolisi, with a further two fetchers named on the bench.
The famed 'Bomb Squad’ was briefly dismantled during the Rugby Championship but it has been restored for Saturday, and South Africa's starting front row suggests they will go after Ireland at scrum time and look to sap the energy from Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, thereby limiting their influence in the loose.
But there is more to this South African side than mere power. The selection of Willemse at 10 is an exciting prospect – only Ardie Savea made more offloads during the Rugby Championship – and could see the Boks kicking far less than when Handre Pollard is at the helm.
Throw in a talented back three of Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Makazole Mapimpi, along with the strong carrying of Damian de Allende in midfield, and this is a Springboks backline with plenty of attacking threat, even in the absence of the brilliant Lukhanyo Am.
Willemse will take the ball to the line, like his opposite number Sexton, but when it comes to goal-kicking the pair are worlds apart. Willemse started at out-half in the wins over Australia and Argentina and missed four of his seven shots from the tee.
South Africa won more penalties than any other side in the Rugby Championship so the lack of a high-percentage place-kicker in their match-day squad represents a gamble by Jacques Nienaber.
Keeping the scoreboard ticking over will be crucial against an Ireland side that have conceded just seven points or fewer in their last four home games and developed a habit of scoring early.
In seven out of their eight games in 2022, Ireland have scored a try inside seven minutes. The one exception was the final game of the Six Nations against Scotland, where we had to wait 16 minutes before Dan Sheehan crossed for the opening try.
Ireland have averaged 35 points per game in the past 12 months, scoring 52 tries in 11 Tests. They are also adept at holding onto possession, dominating territory and don’t often leave an opposition 22 without some points in their back pocket.
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South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is looking forward to a reunion of sorts at the Aviva Stadium as the former Munster boss readies his side for their Test with Ireland
Seven of South Africa’s starting line-up played in the 38-3 annihilation by Ireland in Dublin in 2017, compared to four from Ireland, and righting that wrong is bound to have featured regularly in Springboks team meetings this week.
South Africa's maul remains a major asset but their inexperience at half-back could swing the game in Ireland’s favour.
Provided the forwards hold their own up front, Murray and Sexton can use their street smarts to move the Springboks pack around the park, while their accuracy with the boot can ensure the visiting back three are given little room to manoeuvre.
A 10th successive home win would represent the perfect start ahead of a huge 12 months for Irish rugby. They possess the brains to beat the brawn.
Verdict: Ireland
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Mack Hansen; Johnny Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson Park, Joey Carbery, Jimmy O'Brien
South Africa: Cheslin Kolbe; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian De Allende, Makazole Mapimpi; Damian Willemse, Jaden Hendrikse; Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx, Frans Malherbe; Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager; Siya Kolisi (capt), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Deon Fourie, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GEO)
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