HEYNEKE Meyer's Springboks arrived in a cold, damp Irish capital yesterday knowing that the first match on this three-test tour could set the tone for the rest of the trip against tricky opposition.
In recent years Ireland has been the Springboks' nemesis in Dublin, with the hosts winning three of the last four of their clashes in the capital city at both the old Lansdowne Road and Croke Park.
The Irish, normally a formidable obstacle, loom as an even higher hurdle for the injury-depleted Boks.
Meyer's team is without hooker Bismarck du Plessis, lock Andries Bekker, flanks Schalk Burger and Heinrich Brüssow, No 8 Pierre Spies, flyhalf Johan Goosen, centre Frans Steyn and wing Bryan Habana. And there are several more walking wounded among the touring party.
So the Boks need a huge effort first up against Ireland to lay down a marker for the rest of the tour, and to give themselves confidence and momentum for later matches against Scotland and England.
"We haven't won all our matches on the end-of-year tour for some time, which shows how difficult it is," Meyer said. "Obviously we aim to win but it will be tough and we need a lot of things to go right for us.
"Last time the Boks were here we lost to Scotland in 2010 and we've only won one of the last four in Ireland. I'm under no illusions how tough it will be."
Despite the general feeling that the Springboks only have to arrive in the northern hemisphere to win, the reality is quite different.
In previous November tours since 1992, the Springboks have lost 18 of 55 tests (excluding the 1999 and 2007 World Cups) - a 33% losing ratio. So losing one out of these three tests would be par for the tourists.
But seldom has a Bok team arrived in the northern hemisphere on the back of such a difficult year. Meyer's side has won only four of nine tests on his watch, which has placed the coach under pressure to come away with a 100% winning record on this tour.
Depleted Boks face Dublin hoodoo
HEYNEKE Meyer's Springboks arrived in a cold, damp Irish capital yesterday knowing that the first match on this three-test tour could set the tone for the rest of the trip against tricky opposition.
In recent years Ireland has been the Springboks' nemesis in Dublin, with the hosts winning three of the last four of their clashes in the capital city at both the old Lansdowne Road and Croke Park.
The Irish, normally a formidable obstacle, loom as an even higher hurdle for the injury-depleted Boks.
Meyer's team is without hooker Bismarck du Plessis, lock Andries Bekker, flanks Schalk Burger and Heinrich Brüssow, No 8 Pierre Spies, flyhalf Johan Goosen, centre Frans Steyn and wing Bryan Habana. And there are several more walking wounded among the touring party.
So the Boks need a huge effort first up against Ireland to lay down a marker for the rest of the tour, and to give themselves confidence and momentum for later matches against Scotland and England.
"We haven't won all our matches on the end-of-year tour for some time, which shows how difficult it is," Meyer said. "Obviously we aim to win but it will be tough and we need a lot of things to go right for us.
"Last time the Boks were here we lost to Scotland in 2010 and we've only won one of the last four in Ireland. I'm under no illusions how tough it will be."
Despite the general feeling that the Springboks only have to arrive in the northern hemisphere to win, the reality is quite different.
In previous November tours since 1992, the Springboks have lost 18 of 55 tests (excluding the 1999 and 2007 World Cups) - a 33% losing ratio. So losing one out of these three tests would be par for the tourists.
But seldom has a Bok team arrived in the northern hemisphere on the back of such a difficult year. Meyer's side has won only four of nine tests on his watch, which has placed the coach under pressure to come away with a 100% winning record on this tour.
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