IRELAND’S performance in the opening test in Pretoria indicates that the current crop of players are still very capable of getting the better of any opposition.
The pre-match predictions from the (Rassie) Erasmus camp were well and truly smashed, and had this game been played outside of ‘Bokland’ the result could well have gone the other direction.
The seven-point winning margin may have been much closer if Jack Crowley had been more accurate from a brace of kickable chances at the posts.
Referee Luke Pierce must have had a few blushes when he looked back on that reckless tackle from RG Snyman on Craig Casey. A similar tackle from the same South Africa player on Edinburgh’s Ben Healy in a recent Munster URC game comes to mind.
On Saturday it’s down to Durban where the second of the two-match test series will be played out before a 46,000 Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium, locally known as ‘The Shark Tank’, kick-off 4pm.
If the physicality is anything like the first test, Ireland’s weakened 35-man squad will be seriously stretched.
The post-match walking wounded included the exclusion of Casey and Dan Sheehan while Andrew Porter, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, and Jamie Osborne were all carrying injuries.
Unfortunately, Ireland’s choices off the bench, particularly in the front row, are limited. Cian Healy may have buckets of experience at loose-head but the other option, the inexperienced Tom O’Toole, could be out of his depth at this level.
On the bright side, there were super performances from Conor Murray (Garryowen) and Casey (Shannon) before the latter was chopped-down by his former Munster colleague.
Coach Andy Farrell is optimistic, saying “we are not going to be roaring and shouting, it’s an honest group and this is a test match”.
Added Murray: “Andy said (after first test) ‘no feeling sorry for ourselves,’ and I don’t think we should. We will have a right go of it at the weekend.”
