I am and forever will be a Springbok supporter, and it was without trepidation that I sat down to watch South Africa play Ireland in one of the final Tests at Lansdowne Road.

South Africa were wearing their centenary jerseys and the travelling support were surprisingly boisterous, given that it was an inhospitable howling Irish autumn evening. I, too, was looking forward to the likes of Bryan Habana, new boy Francois Steyn and Percy Montgomery opening up the Irish backs and running amok.

Yes, I was aware that Ireland had done well in the Six Nations; yes, I knew the press had been talking them up; and, yes, I knew that South Africa v Ireland was always a close-run thing. But I was not prepared for what I saw.

'The England camp is right, the World Cup will be staying in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be taking pride of place in the foyer of the ''new'' Lansdowne Road stadium'


Although Jake White was playing an experimental team, no one, apart from the always-amazing Bryan Habana, stood out. These were the guys who were being groomed to form part of a mixture of youthful and experienced players for the World Cup team. Oh dear! South Africa played OK - but Ireland played better, much better. The first half ended 22-3, with Girvan Dempsey, Denis Leamy and Andrew Trimble annihilating the Springboks' makeshift back line.

I don’t like seeing South Africa lose, so I turned the television off. However, now, with less than a month to go, I can gladly say that my fears for South Africa were misplaced/ The blend of youth and experience has worked well and they will be travelling to France as one of the favourites. But what of Ireland?

The England camp is right, the World Cup will be staying in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be taking pride of place in the foyer of the ‘new’ Lansdowne Road stadium when it has been completed following its £350m refurbishment in 2009.

Eddie O’Sullivan and his team have been quietly going about their preparations for the last eight months without so much as creating a blip on the radar. Whilst all eyes have been on the All Blacks, Brian O’Driscoll, returning from a hamstring injury, and his band of merry green giants have kept their heads down and feet firm on the ground.

New faces have also been introduced, with the likes of Brian Carney having made the switch from Rugby League. The team on average are big - Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan would make most children cry just by looking at them. But their physical stature is not nearly as big as their support.

I have been working in Ireland for the past two months and before anyone even knows that I am from South Africa, they are talking about the World Cup. But no one has mentioned winning it. However, they will.

The team is brimming with world-class talent. Geordan Murphy is in fine form and although he is still some way short of the achievements of one Joost van der Westhuizen, Peter Stringer is probably the best scrum-half in the world. They will match any thing the All Blacks have to offer. Should Ireland be runners-up in the so-called ‘Group of Death’, they will face New Zealand in the quarter-finals, where there will be only one outcome.

And what of the Springboks? Well after winning Pool A, they will play Ireland in the Final. And yes, I will be turning off at half time!

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