The All Blacks are preparing to face the world champion Springboks, with coach Ian Foster under intense pressure to end their dire run of form after four defeats in their past five matches.
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says the Springboks are concentrated solely on improving their game before preparing for back-to-back Tests against the All Blacks in South Africa.
The Springboks received a timely boost with the inclusion of Duane Vermeulen and Frans Steyn in a 41-man squad chosen for the Rugby Championship, but the injured Cheslin Kolbe is doubtful to recover in time to feature in the tournament.
Siviwe Soyizwapi will lead the South African men’s sevens team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where Team SA will look to emulate Neil Powell’s 2014 class of gold medallists.
Tickets to the clash between Ireland and the World Cup-holding Springboks at the Aviva Stadium in November have sold out.
Rampant 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam champions France would trample the Springbok pack, according to Leinster icon Isa Nacewa.
Jake White says the Springboks have become “too rigid” in how they play, with the world champions then running the risk of being found out by “the No 1 team in the world”, France.
Eben Etzebeth let his stoic guard down as he grinned after celebrating his 100th Test for the Springboks with a series victory over Wales on his old stomping ground in Cape Town on Saturday.
Ireland can overtake France at the top of the World Rugby Rankings while a loss for the Springboks could relegate the world champions to fifth place.
The Junior Springboks left their best performance for last as they outplayed Wales in the Six Nations U20 Summer Series final in Treviso on Tuesday night.