South Africa vs Ireland Preview - Rugby World Cup 2023
Date: 23/09/23
Time: 21:00 CET
Venue: Stade de France
South Africa and Ireland, the two of the top contenders in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, are set to face in a key Pool B encounter at the Stade de France on September 23.
In the second round of the competition, both teams continued their unbeatable streaks. Ireland displayed an impressive performance by scoring nearly 60 points against Tonga, while South Africans dominated Romania with a resounding 76-0 victory.
Both side have their sights firmly set on winning the tournament, as a victory in this match is likely to secure a more favorable draw for the quarter-finals.
However, it's important to note that tough opponents like France and New Zealand from Pool A await the winners, so the advantage gained might not be substantial.
South Africa vs Ireland Prediction - Rugby World Cup 2023
Odds:
South Africa win: 1.70
Draw: 21.00
Ireland win: 2.16
South Africa beat Romania 76-0 at the Rugby World Cup with hat tricks from scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and wing Makazole Mapimpi. (Image Source: Reuters)
Looking back at their recent meeting, the teams have met eight times since 2010, with each side claiming victory four times. The Wolfhounds emerged victorious in the last two meetings, which took place in 2022 and 2017, both held in Dublin. Springboks, meanwhile, had triumphed in the two prior clashes.
In terms of their overall head-to-head record, the Africans currently hold the lead with 18 wins to Ireland's 9.
This matchup is shaping up to be one of the most evenly contested encounters ever witnessed in the tournament, therefore, we believe, the European team will showcase strong performances and could potentially gain a slight edge.
However, they are up against a formidable opponent that remains formidable regardless of the circumstances or who they face.
Johnny Sexton became Ireland’s all-time leading points scorer in a 59-16 win over Tonga in Nantes. (Image Source: Reuters)