O’Connell feels experience will be key for Ireland v South Africa

It was all achieved in muscular, dynamic and often telepathic style, but in France this autumn they are hoping to reach uncharted territory. 

The World Cup wasn’t a happy hunting ground for Irish teams in the past – they have never made it beyond the quarter-finals. 

A blockbuster clash with world champions and No. 2-ranked side South Africa in Paris on Saturday night will lay down a marker to any would-be rivals for the trophy, as well as potentially determining who tops Pool B.

And Ireland forwards coach Paul O’Connell believes the time has come to tap into their all-conquering experience of the last two years. 

“I think the players have got to bring everything they brought to the big occasions they have been in over the last few years,” said O’Connell.  

“We’ve had a Test series decider down in New Zealand, we’ve had a Grand Slam decider, we’ve had a tough autumn series against some very tricky opposition, and the boys have always found a way and figured it out, it’s a real strength of theirs.

“They’re going to have to play super well tomorrow but they’re also going to have to figure things out. 

“It’s something I enjoy watching them do, when they have a challenge in front of them, how they manage to figure it out as a group, and it’s something they will have to do this weekend.” 

Ireland have recent experience to draw on as encouragement, a 19-16 win over South Africa in Dublin in November. 

But the Springboks side has since added a more attacking dimension to their famous power game and they remain a daunting opponent. 

“It’s going to take a big performance [to win]. They’re an excellent side, they’ve been together a long time as a group and a coaching group,” said O’Connell. 

“They understand how they want to play and deal with certain situations in the game. They have developed their game since the last World Cup and a lot since last autumn. 

“Our boys are under no doubt about how big a challenge it is. They present a big physical challenge but so do we.

“They present a real tactical challenge. They’re a smart side and that’s one of things you admire most about them, the smarts they bring along with their physicality.”

Both sides go into the game with two wins from two; South Africa powered to an 18-3 win over Scotland in Marseille before thrashing Romania, while Ireland eased past Romania and Tonga. 

Pool B has been labelled as the ‘pool of death’ as it features three of the top five ranked teams in the world, including the Scots, due to the draw taking place two-and-a-half years before the tournament. 

Although the lopsided draw has caused a lot of consternation among fans, it has at least given O’Connell and the rest of the Irish coaching team plenty of time to prepare. 

“We have known our pool opponents for quite some time, so there’s been plenty of chat about it, plenty of days when we’ve had a focus on the teams within the pool to figure out what they’re about and what we need on that day,” he said. 

“The fact that we’ve known for a little longer means you have more time. But it hasn’t been massively different.

“One of the things you can’t do on these occasions is move away from how you prepare or what you stand for. 

“You have to tweak things a little bit so you’re ready for the opposition, but one of our big strengths is our understanding of what we’re about and how we go about delivering that. 

“It’s hard enough every week ensuring we deliver what we stand for. There’s certainly a focus on the opposition but not as much as you would think.” 

Wing Mack Hansen scored a try in Ireland’s win over South Africa in the autumn and his battle with Springboks counterparts Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse promises to be a fascinating subplot in Paris. 

“They are two of the best wingers in the world, Kolbe is arguably one of the best wingers of all time,” Hansen said. 

“I was lucky enough to have a game against Kolbe in the autumn and the same with Kurt-Lee, against the Bulls.  

“You can’t get used to playing these two lads at all, but I’ve played against them a couple of times now which is nice.

“I’ll do my thing to get ready, to get my mindset ready, and the rest will come down to how I perform.”

A raucous atmosphere is expected in France’s 80,000-seater national stadium, with around 30,000 Irish fans expected to be in attendance. 

“These are the games you want to be playing in,” said World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier. 

“It’s every kid’s dream to get to play in front of that many Irish fans at a World Cup in a stadium like this, against a team like South Africa. It’s a dream come true.”