Quilter Nations Series: Ireland v South Africa

Something will have to give at a packed-out Aviva Stadium this evening as the Ireland Men’s team (sponsored by Vodafone) have won 25 of their last 27 home matches, while South Africa are on a nine-match winning run on European soil.

2025 QUILTER NATIONS SERIES:

Saturday, November 22 –

IRELAND v SOUTH AFRICA, Aviva Stadium, 5.40pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/TNT Sports/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio 5 Live/BBC Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds/IRFU Live Blog)

Coming To The Match? All You Need To Know For Ireland v South Africa

Team News: Garry Ringrose, who has recovered from a hamstring strain, and Bundee Aki are reunited in the centre as two of the four personnel changes made by Ireland head coach Andy Farrell for their final Test of 2025.

Flanker Josh van der Flier is also back from a hamstring issue, winning his 75th cap, while Andrew Porter replaces Paddy McCarthy at loosehead prop as Farrell’s side look to follow up on last week’s record 46-14 win over Australia.

Caelan Doris, one of the try scorers against the Wallabies, captains the team from the back row. He reverts to the number 8 position, with van der Flier’s inclusion at openside seeing Jack Conan make way. Ryan Baird features again on the blindside.

With 139 Ireland appearances between them, James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne continue together at lock, and Dan Sheehan, who has scored seven international tries in the calendar year, and Tadhg Furlong complete the front row.

Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park will lead the back-line again, with the latter set to face the Springboks for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup after missing last year’s drawn series due to injury.

Connacht’s Mack Hansen is set for his second successive start in the number 15 jersey, having starred with a first-half hat-trick in the Australia game. Tommy O’Brien and James Lowe will carry the attacking threats out wide.

The Ireland coaches have strong options on the bench with Rónan Kelleher, McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Cian Prendergast, and Conan the forward replacements, while Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, and the newly-capped Tom Farrell provide the back-line reinforcements.

Speaking ahead of the heavyweight showdown, Andy Farrell said: “South Africa are the World champions and we know the challenge that awaits us this weekend.

“Whenever you face a top side you know that you have to be on top of your game and that you will be tested, and we’ll look to build on the momentum from last weekend and approach the game positively.

“The players were galvanised by the support (last weekend) and it makes such a positive point of difference when you’re at home.

“There’s familiarity and respect between both teams, and I know how excited the squad is to represent Ireland to the best of our ability for our last home game of 2025.”

Meanwhile, Leinster second row RG Snyman will join a select group of players to earn 50 caps for South Africa when they play the penultimate match of their European tour.

Having rested most of the players for last week’s 32-14 victory over Italy, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has returned to the winning formula from their 32-17 defeat of France a fortnight ago.

There are two enforced changes to the team that started in Paris, with Canan Moodie and Ruan Nortje replacing Kurt-Lee Arendse (concussion) and the suspended Lood de Jager, who was red carded against France.

De Jager and fellow lock Franco Mostert were not considered for selection due to their disciplinary appeals and hearings this week to avoid the outcomes of those decisions impacting on the squad’s preparations.

Flying winger Cheslin Kolbe and scrum half Cobus Reinach will both feature in their 49th Test outings, leaving them only one game short of joining Snyman and several other team-mates on 50 caps.

Captain Siya Kolisi leads a powerful pack which includes two of the 2025 World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year nominees, Malcolm Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit.

In the back-line, Reinach will reunite with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at half-back, with Kolbe and Moodie on the wings, former Munster centre Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel manning the midfield, and Damian Willemse at full-back.

The visitors’ replacements include the aforementioned Snyman along with hybrid player Andre Esterhuizen, who can cover flanker and centre. Grant Williams and Manie Libbok are the two specialist backs.

“Ireland have been among the top-ranked teams in the last few years, and they are a force to be reckoned with at home,” commented Erasmus.

“They have a good balance of experienced and exciting young players in their squad, and they pose threats up front and with their talented backs, so it’s going to require a massive effort to beat them.

“This group of players have never won a match in Ireland before, so we know how tough it’s going to be to win here, and that will certainly motivate us.

“It will take a colossal effort, but we are excited about the challenge, and we know that we have to be razor sharp in all departments to get the desired result.”

IRELAND: Mack Hansen (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht); Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Garry Ringrose (UCD RFC/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (UCD RFC/Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf FC/Leinster), James Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne FC/Munster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Josh van der Flier (UCD RFC/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster) (capt).

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Cian Prendergast (UCD RFC/Connacht), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Craig Casey (Shannon RFC/Munster), Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Tom Farrell (Lansdowne FC/Munster).

SOUTH AFRICA: Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers); Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath); Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers); Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eden Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) (capt), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners).

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson, Christophe Ridley (both RFU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Dan Jones (RFU)

Pre-Match Quotes:

Caelan Doris (Ireland) –

I think probably the success of this November hinges a little bit on our performance this weekend. Momentum has obviously built nicely as the weeks have gone on, but this is the real test.

“There’s definitely a lot (of rivalry) there. There’s a strong understanding of how we both want to play the game.

“We’ve had some good results (against South Africa). They’ve beaten us over there as well. Yeah, there’s that line tomorrow. That’s the feeling.

“It’s a privilege to be involved in this game. The 8.10 kick-off last week (against Australia), and 5.40 tomorrow are going to be special.

“Looking back to the World Cup in 2023, the atmosphere out there was one of the best I’ve experienced, but the year before here in 2022 was very special as well.

“Yeah, we’re looking forward to hearing the crowd tomorrow, and they make a proper difference to us.”

Siya Kolisi (South Africa) –

Ireland are a very good team, and that is the reason we’ve struggled to win here for so many years.

“It will all be about taking our opportunities this weekend because we’ve lost with small margins against them at times as a result of that, and we’ve learned a lot from those previous games. This is a very important match, so we must be at our best.

“I’m very happy for RG. With everything he’s been through, he could have given up at any time, and I’d like to credit the Unions that have backed him and stuck with him through all his injuries.

“He’s always supported us, even when he was out, and since he’s been back, you can see what it means to him to be here. So, I’m really grateful and happy that he’s achieving this milestone.

“He missed out on two years with the team, but he kept fighting. He’s one of the most talented guys in the group, and hopefully we can make it special for him.”

Pre-Match Links –

Recent Meetings –

2022: Bank of Ireland Nations Series: Ireland 19 South Africa 16, Aviva Stadium

2023: Rugby World Cup Pool B: South Africa 8 Ireland 13, Stade de France

2024: Summer Tour: First Test: South Africa 27 Ireland 20, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria; Second Test: South Africa 24 Ireland 25, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban

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