...Ireland's defensive coach Graham Steadman, forwards coach Niall O'Donovan and skills coach Brian McLaughlin take part in a press conference at Lansdowne Road...

See below for quotes from some of Ireland's specialist coaches Niall O'Donovan, Graham Steadman and Brian McLaughlin, ahead of Saturday's Guinness Autumn Test match against the Springboks.

NIALL O'DONOVAN (FORWARDS COACH):

"The South African forwards are big, but they're athletic as well and they're strong, so it will be a very physical contest for us up front and if we can win parity up there then anything can really happen after that.

"I have no worries about Rory (Best) making his first Test start. He is well rehearsed in the system we play. His last few games with Ulster have been very good and his lineout throwing has been excellent so I've no problems with him slotting in at hooker."

...Niall O'Donovan...

"(On the Irish scrum) I would hope that we will get our concentration right throughout the whole game, and get all the scrums right and get rid of all the talk about this Irish scrum being weak, because when you go out looking for a weak scrum you'll find a weak scrum. And I think our scrum can be as good as anyone else's around.

"Two victories in a lifetime isn't a great record when it comes to playing against South Africa, and once in the last 40 years, which just happened to be two years ago.

"No matter what team South Africa field, it's going to be difficult to beat anything that comes out in a Springbok jersey. We'd be treating it in the exact same way as we did two years ago. We wouldn't see ourselves as favourites going into this Test match."

...Brian McLaughlin...

BRIAN MCLAUGHLIN (SKILLS COACH):

"With Denis (Leamy) and Wally (David Wallace) there we are exceptionally quick in our back row and I think it's very important that we get there first (at the breakdown). If we get there first it makes the job a lot easier for the half-backs to get the clean possession away to our strength."

...Graham Steadman...

GRAHAM STEADMAN (DEFENCE COACH):

"With the type of blitz system South Africa operate, the key for us will be to remain patient with the ball in hand and expose any gaps we can indentify. There will be a lot of spillages throughout the game and it's about how each side reacts.

"We've worked out a few attacking systems to sort out their defence. In terms of their attack, it's obviously an unknown quantity in some respects, with three new caps in the back-three. But we've done a lot of homework and they key will be preventing them from dictating the game.

"What we've got to do is sow the seeds of doubt early on - not let them get into the game and build on confidence. That's certainly a job our starting fifteen have got to do. Off the back of that we do know they (South Africa) have a lot of quality and pace out there, and certainly a nice balance of experience and youth.

"But it's about us this weekend. We've got to turn up and perform come kick-off time, and finish the job off."

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