Erasmus opts for continuity and combinations for Ireland showdown in Dublin

Suspended lock Lood de Jager and injured wing Kurt-Lee Arendse are the only two players missing from the Springbok team that beat France 32-17 in Paris two weeks ago for this weekend’s showdown against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

Canan Moodie will start at wing in place of Arendse, while Ruan Nortje comes in at No 5 lock, as the Boks look to win in Dublin for the first time since 2012.

The team is comfortingly familiar, as the Boks make a final push to end what has been a very good season on a high.

Victory in Ireland is the last real hurdle for this Bok team to scale — it’s the only Tier One nation where they have failed to win in the Erasmus era.

They might never have a better chance, as this is a settled and successful Bok unit with vast experience, loads of skill and a dash of x-factor coupled with excellent momentum and form.

The ingredients are in place to scale this last mountain in 2025 and allow the team to recalibrate its goals for 2026 and beyond.

The Boks have a collective total of 1,237 caps across the 23-man squad, averaging 53.7 caps per player.

Lock RG Snyman will earn his 50^th Test cap off the bench, producing yet another milestone for this decorated group.

Erasmus did not give overdue consideration to starting Snyman because of the milestone. The giant lock is a key member of the Bomb Squad.

“We did have a quick chat about it [starting], and I asked if he’d mind playing off the bench,” said Erasmus.

“RG said, ‘No problem.’ He totally understands. He’s grateful just to be in the team, especially with two locks not available and one injured.”

Combinations

Erasmus, where possible, has gone for combinations to maintain the momentum built up through the season.

At halfback, Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu combine for the sixth time as a starting pair, solidifying their positions as the first-choice unit.

Outside them, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel feature in a record-extending 42^nd outing as a Bok centre pairing. De Allende is now also increasingly familiar with playing alongside Feinberg-Mngomezulu in that crucial 10/12 axis.

The back row of Jasper Wiese, Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit is also now a purring machine, as it combines for a fifth time in the last seven Tests.

While loosehead Boan Venter is inexperienced, the reserve front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw is a tested combination for the Bulls and Boks.

“The majority of this team were rested last week to ensure that they recover from the physically taxing match against France,” Erasmus said.

“It was always our plan to name an experienced outfit against Ireland.

“Most of these players have faced Ireland in Dublin, as well as in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and in South Africa last year, so they understand the magnitude of this challenge and what to expect from the hosts. So, we believe this is the right group of players for this match.”

There are 11 players in this weekend’s squad who featured against Ireland in Durban in 2024, a game the Boks lost 25-24 to a last-gasp Ciarán Frawley drop-goal.

The Boks also didn’t score a try that day — all their points came from Handré Pollard’s boot. It’s unlikely they will win in Dublin without scoring a few tries.

Nuke Squad?

Erasmus said he had mulled a 7-1 split on the bench (the Nuke Squad) right up until Thursday morning, during a disrupted week of preparation due to disciplinary hearings for locks Franco Mostert and De Jager.

Mostert was red-carded during the 32-14 win over Italy last week, which was rescinded during a hearing late on Tuesday night.

De Jager appealed against his four-week suspension for a red-card offence in Paris against France, but was unsuccessful.

Mostert was therefore cleared to play, but because of what turned out to be a wrongful red card, his participation in training was hampered, which clarified Erasmus’ thinking.

“Until this morning [Thursday], I must say, waking up, and I’m thinking, shouldn’t we go 7-1?” Erasmus said. “But it just f**ked up the training sessions. If you bracket this guy with that guy, it becomes a mess.

“We decided to keep it clean and pick the guys who trained the whole week.”

Ireland coach Andy Farrell opted for the defensively frail flyhalf Sam Prendergast to start, preferring his playmaking skills to unlock the Boks’ defence.

Ireland beat Australia 46-19 last week and also have good momentum going into the match.

“South Africa are the world champions and we know the challenge that awaits us this weekend,” said Farrell.

“Whenever you face a top side, you know that you must be on top of your game and that you will be tested, and we’ll look to build on the momentum from last weekend and approach the game positively.

“The players were galvanised by the support [last weekend], and it makes such a positive point of difference when you’re at home.

“There’s familiarity and respect between both teams, and I know how excited the squad is to represent Ireland to the best of our ability for our last home game of 2025.” DM

Ireland: 15 Mack Hansen, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 James Ryan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Reserves: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Cian Prendergast, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Tom Farrell.

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter.
Reserves: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.