As the Springboks gather in Johannesburg before making their way to the Northern Hemisphere, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is well aware of the challenge he faces against the 2007 World Champions.
“South Africa do loom large,” he said.
“I don’t know if there’s been a better player in the world this year than Duane Vermeulen. I think he’s been unbelievable and we know so many of their other players.
“I was down at the Junior World Cup and watched flyhalf Handre Pollard, as a young fella playing in that final against England and he is an impressive young player, an impressive physical ball-carrier, he’s a big kid.
“So, there’s the new and old there and they have got a great mix and they’ll be very tough.”
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Meanwhile, the Irish squad assembled on Tuesday which saw some players carrying a few niggles following Round Two of the European Champions Cup.
Loosehead prop James Cronin was obliged to see a specialist regarding an ankle injury, by contrast, Andrew Conway was called in to the first day of camp after continuing his good form with a stand-out performance over the weekend.
The 23-year-old Cronin has been a revelation in the last season and a bit, winning his first cap on the Aregentina tour, and while Munster and Ireland were last night still awaiting the outcome of a scan, encouragingly he overcame a similar injury last season.
Gordon D’Arcy (groin) and Jack McGrath (arm) joins Cronin on the injury list while Stuart Olding is undergoing return-to-play protocols after suffering suspected concussion.
Ireland play South Africa at the Aviva on November 8, while some Leinster players in the squad are set to come up against their former boss, Michael Cheika, in their series finale against Australia a fortnight later.