Ireland hoping to end with big performance

At the end of their South African safari, the Irish rugby tourists may feel entitled to turn their thoughts to summer holidays (even if pre-season training for the early August interprovincials has already started back home). But only on the basis that they can run until they drop one last time. Because at Loftus Versfeld today, they may well have to.

Holidays have been booked, minds may have turned to sea, sun and sand, but the degree to which the Irish management and squad can enjoy those forthcoming days will largely be determined by events in Pretoria today (kick-off 5.15 local time, 4.15 Irish time).

Indeed, coming as the final, definitive footnote to the 1997-98 season, today's outcome will linger longer in the mind than any other game, and good, bad or indifferent, will hang over Irish rugby throughout July and maybe into August and beyond.

This is another massive game, and another strong Irish performance will generate a feel good factor going into the 1998-99 season.

However, it doesn't get more difficult than this: a second Test in the high veldt against the world champions, themselves set on dire retribution for even having their cage rattled a week ago. If taking on the Springboks a week ago was difficult, then it stands to reason that a second Test will be even more so.

Take the bold facts. The Springboks beat Ireland by 24 points last week, despite the latter putting in a big performance in many respects while the home side were rusty and below par. Precedent and theory dictates that the Springboks will improve, whereas Ireland may struggle to achieve the same level of commitment.

One would certainly expect several of their players to have benefitted from a first competitive outing in a month, and so see a significantly bigger impact from the likes of Mark Andrews and Joost van der Westhuizen.

One would expect them to focus more on the set-pieces, and to attempt to pummel the Irish by driving at them in the loose before seeking to cut loose in the last 2030 minutes.

Their captain Gary Teichmann may have revealed their hand on Thursday when saying: "We approached the game in Bloemfontein with the wrong attitude - we allowed the Irish too much possession. They can be as negative as they like in their play, but it won't help them if they don't have the ball."

Expect then, more shortened line-outs, and Teichmann and van der Westhuizen to attack the channel inside Elwood.

Those comments also betrayed an inherent Afrikaner arrogance, the Pretoria Times catching the mood of the South African media by concluding it's preview with a forecast of "a Bok avalanche on the Irish tryline".

However, Ireland are not primed as the proverbial lambs they may have been in the past, the most blatant example being the 1992 tourists to New Zealand which lost the first test by 24-21, and the second by a record 59-6.

The argument against two-Test series, applied there, would only have served as a self-deluding varnish. Besides, this time around the squad is far more unified and spirited, the midweek side has not been getting beaten out the gate regularly, and there's no sign of a fear factor.

This second Test could be a surprising war of attrition, at least for 50 minutes or so. If so, then to a degree, that may well suit this Ireland team, in that not only will Ireland be playing to Irish strengths, but so will the Springboks. But then that not only depends on the Irish pack competing equally in the set-pieces, but on the tacticians behind the pack ensuring there is an equitable share of set-piece ball.

You also sense that the Irish, despite the marked improvement in continuity up front through mauls and rucks, will have to keep the ball longer than they did last week. Save for Kevin Maggs' potent crash ball bursts at outside centre, Ireland's back play hasn't evolved to the same degree on this tour, and given the strengths of Andy Ward's game lie closer in, hence they haven't been recycling much ball wider out.

Maybe this Irish team will surprise, we could see more of Dion O'Cuinneagain's pace and ball-handling. But regardless of the score going into the last quarter, an imbalance in possession and/or especially the tackle count, will exact a due toll thereafter.

It almost goes without saying in games likes these (Paris, Twickenham, last week) that staying in touch, or keeping the scoreboard and the crowd nice and quiet, for the first 20 is imperative. Then, equally, that Ireland are still in touch with 20 to go.

If ever all the conditions and vagaries of this match were conditioned toward a thumping home win, then this is it. Realistically therefore, for Ireland to produce another big performance and improve on last week's scoreline, would be a praiseworthy effort.

South Africa: Terblanche, A Snyman, P Muller, P Rossouw; F Smith, J van der Westhuizen; O le Roux, J Dalton, A Garvey, K Otto, M Andrews, J Erasmus, G Teichmann (capt), A Venter.

Ireland: C O'Shea (London Irish); J Bishop (London Irish), K Maggs (Bristol), M McCall (London Irish), D Hickie (St Mary's); E Elwood (Galwegians), C McGuinness (St Mary's); J Fitzpatrick (London Irish), K Wood (Harlequins), P Wallace (Saracens), M O'Kelly (London Irish), P Johns (Saracens, capt), D O'Cuinneagain (Sale), V Costello (St Mary's), A Ward (Ballynahinch).

Referee: Joel Dume (France).