Newly-appointed team manager Zola Yeye reckons South Africa have learnt from the mistakes they made two years ago when they went down 17-12 to Ireland at Lansdowne Road.
The sides clash again, for the fifth time since 2000, this Saturday and Yeye revealed that there is a confidence amongst the Springboks squad, despite its relatively inexperienced look.
There are four newcomers amidst Jake White's 27-man travelling party - which has an average age of just under 25 - while of the tourists, only hooker and captain John Smit started the 2004 loss to Ireland.
Yeye said: "The last time we were here we were complacent, but we have learnt our lessons. We know it takes something special to win here (in Dublin) and the team needs to be focussed.
"They (the players) are determined not to repeat the errors of the past. They're in the right mindset."
The 51-year-old Yeye is leading the 'Boks on their three-Test tour, having being appointed just last week to replace Arthrob Petersen who walked out on the team in June.
As with all of the leading nations, South Africa will be looking at new combinations and experimenting with some fresh faces during their tour, all with one eye on next year's World Cup.
We need a bigger pool of players for the World Cup, Yeye conceded. "We've rested some players and taken a conscious decision to create a bigger pool.
The new players are not guaranteed places in the World Cup squad, but this is an opportunity for them to show they deserve their places. They must put their hands up and show us how much they want to be there.
"What will determine the success of this tour is how the players take the opportunities presented to them," he added.
The South African team and replacements for the weekend's encounter will be named tomorrow (Wednesday) in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel.
Interview Source: Planet Rugby
