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South Africa v Ireland, Rugby World Cup 2023: what time is today's match and how to watch on TV
South Africa and Ireland, two of the favourites for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, meet in a huge Pool B clash at the Stade de France later today.
The Springboks’ team selection raised eyebrows during the week as head coach Jacques Nienaber opted for a seven-one split between forwards and backs on the bench.
The reigning champions deployed the high-risk strategy successfully in their record 35-7 victory over New Zealand in a warm-up game last month, but this will be the first time it has been used in a World Cup match.
Both sides come into the match with unbeaten records in the tournament so far, after Ireland put just shy of 60 points past Tonga in their last game and South Africa beat Romania 76-0.
The gaze of both squads will be fixed on winning the overall competition, and victory for either here will likely ensure an easier quarter-final clash. Although with likely Pool A heavy weights France and New Zealand lying in wait, the advantage will hardly be a big one.
When is it?
South Africa v Ireland takes place today (Saturday, September 23), with the match kicking off at 8pm BST (9pm local time).
Where is it?
The Stade de France. This stadium was historically built for the 1998 Fifa World Cup and has been the national stadium for France ever since as well as the home for the country’s rugby team. Les Bleus first played here on February 7, 1998, when Philippe Bernat-Salles and the late Christophe Dominici both crossed the whitewash in a 24-17 defeat of England. It has a capacity of 80,023 which is why it has been the stomping ground for so many big matches, in total, the Stade de France has hosted 97 men’s test matches – including an RWC 1999 quarter-final and the France 2007 final.
Who is the referee?
Kiwi referee Ben O’Keefe will take charge of the match. The 2023 Rugby World Cup is O’Keefe’s second as an official after he took charge of three matches at the 2019 tournament.
How to watch on TV
ITV has exclusive broadcast rights to show the Rugby World Cup in the UK. This match is on ITV1.
Read Telegraph Sport’s analysis of the best TV commentators and pundits.
Radio commentary will be available only on the BBC, across Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds service. The BBC says there will be a “bespoke output” in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
What is the latest team news?
Ireland
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park has been recalled in the only change to Ireland’s starting XV.
Gibson-Park, who sat out his side’s 59-16 win over Tonga, will resume his half-back partnership with captain Johnny Sexton at Stade de France, with Conor Murray dropping to the bench.
Hooker Dan Sheehan is in line for his first appearance since suffering a foot injury in last month’s warm-up win over England after being named among the replacements.
Ireland XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw
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South Africa
The reigning champions have recalled their star names as part of 13 personnel changes.
Hooker Bongi Mbonambi and Damian Willemse, who switches from fly-half to full-back, are the only two starting players retained from Sunday’s 76-0 thrashing of Pool B minnows Romania.
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has opted for a seven-one split of forwards and backs on a stacked bench for the Stade de France showdown.
His selection shows just one enforced alteration from the team which launched their title defence with an 18-3 win over Scotland on September 10, with Mbonambi continuing in place of Malcolm Marx, whose tournament was ended by a serious knee injury sustained in that game.
As expected, lock Eben Etzebeth has overcome a shoulder issue to take his place in a formidable XV captained by flanker Siya Kolisi. Ulster prop Steven Kitshoff starts, while Jean Kleyn, who represented Ireland at the last World Cup, and fellow Munster lock RG Snyman are among the replacements.
South Africa XV: 15. Damien Willemse, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damien De Allende, 11. Cheslin Kolbe, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Faf De Klerk, 1. Steven Kitshoff, 2. Mbongeni Mbonambi, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Franco Mostert, 6. Siya Kolisi, 7. Pieter-Steph Du Toit 8. Jasper Wieser
Replacements: 16. D Fourie, 17. O Nche, 18. T Nyakane, 19. J Kleyn, 20. RG Snyman, 21. M van Staden, 23. K Smith, 24. C Reinach.
How do I get tickets?
To find out if tickets are still available, click through to the tournament’s official ticketing website.
What are they saying?
Much has been made of the Boks’ decision to select seven replacement forwards on their bench, but Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier says there is more to their game than brute force.
“They are definitely a very physical team and that is something we have got very used to. It is part of their DNA,” Van der Flier told reporters on Friday.
“We know we have to be at our best in that area. They are very smart, they come up with some good plays as well, so it is not just the physical confrontation they bring.
“We will certainly be trying to stop them getting turnovers and competing on our ball. Everyone has a role to play in that. It’s a huge threat and something that has worked really well for South Africa.”
Winger Mack Hansen says this is a fixture they have been eyeing since the World Cup draw was made three years ago.
“We are super excited for it. It’s a big step up from the previous games we have had but it’s everything we’ve been working for this whole time,” Hansen said, adding the battle out wide with Bok wingers Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse will be another big showdown.
“They are arguably two of the best wingers in the world, and Kolbe arguably one of the best wingers of all time,” Hansen said. “I was lucky enough to have game against Kolbe in the autumn, and I played against Kurt (for Connacht) when he was with the Bulls.
“You can’t really get used to playing against these lads at all, but I have played them a couple of times now, which is nice. I have my thing that I’ll do to try to get ready for it and get my mindset ready.
“There are a few nerves here and there but that is what it is all about.”
What is the recent history between the teams?
Since 2010, Ireland and South Africa have faced each other eight times with each team winning four matches apiece.
Ireland have won the last two meetings – in 2022 and 2017, both of which were held in Dublin. South Africa were the winners of the two prior clashes.
South Africa lead the overall head-to-head between the two nations 18-9.
What are their pool matches and results?
Ireland
Saturday, September 9: Ireland 82 Romania 8, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux
Saturday, September 16: Ireland 59 Tonga 16, Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes)
Saturday, 23 September: Ireland v South Africa, Stade de France (Paris)
Saturday, October 7: Ireland v Scotland, Stade de France (Paris)
South Africa
Sunday, September 10: South Africa 18 Scotland 3, Stade de Marseille (Marseille)
Sunday, September 17: South Africa 76 Romania 0, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux
Saturday, September 23: South Africa v Ireland, Stade de France (Paris)
Sunday October 1: South Africa v Tonga, Stade de Marseille (Marseille)
What are the latest odds?
South Africa to win: 10/11
Ireland to win: 6/5
Draw: 22/1
Odds correct as of September 23
