IF anyone doubted the mindset of the Springbok world champion, then Thursday's team announcement by fired-up coach Peter de Villiers has put any theory surrounding fatigue or such like to rest.

This is the 'Full 'Bok Monty,' a South African team on a mission and that mission is to put the best the northern hemisphere can offer firmly in its place before rounding the mid-point bend between World Cups.

The reigning World champions have had a remarkable season thus far, having added Tri Nations and Lions series wins to that global crown. Yet, here they are, at the climax of arguably their most successful period ever, and they are shipping flack at home and abroad.

So, you can imagine the electricity in their team room in the Burlington Hotel prior to departure for Croke Park and the season's finale later today.

Okay, so their rugby may not be pretty -- but then whose is at this point in the professional game's roller-coaster development? It's not pretty, but it sure is effective, based, as ever, on sheer brute force and massive physicality in every collision of consequence. It is the South African trademark, their natural way.

One quick aside, on my first visit to South Africa in 1980, when preparing for the opening Lions Test in Capetown, I pulled a thigh muscle the day before the game. It required an injection just before kick-off. With minutes to go I was slipped discreetly into the medical room and hidden from view as the Lions' medic did his thing.

As I was lying on the bed (feeling awfully sorry for myself) this man-monster (I exaggerate not) shuffled into the adjoining cubicle for some last-ditch patching too. He was as tall as he was wide. Think Moss Keane and John Hayes combined. His name was Louis Moolman of then Northern Transvaal, now Blue Bulls. He was awesome, but typical of the natural order in South Africa. It is no different today.

pragmatic

To that physical advantage they add a simple but pragmatic modus operandi, underscored by pressure on the aerial chase and ultra aggressive defending by way of the blitz.

Call it squeeze tactics, but, whatever your take, it works. And as the French proved in Toulouse, in order to compete, matching force with force is the most fundamental and basic counter ingredient.

Of course, Ireland will look to find a different way around and play it as best they can in the outside channels, but equally they know that this is one of those games and one of those days when you truly do earn the right to go wide.

Enter one Jonathan Sexton. On the biggest day of his sporting life, it is imperative that the Leinster playmaker brings that trademark variety to the game today. Fiji was a big step, but South Africa is by some way bigger and far more demanding than that again. The eyes of the nation will be on him. So too those of Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow and the rest of the 'new-kid-hunting' 'Boks. No pressure then.

Naturally, the new Ireland No 10 will be under the Springbok spotlight and no doubt the focus of maximum attention in the build-up since the team announcement on Tuesday. It couldn't be any other way. How Sexton responds is as unknown to Declan Kidney as it is to De Villiers, but that to me represents an advantage to Ireland.

The unknown factor could become the 'X' factor if sensibly applied and, on last weekend's evidence, albeit against much lesser opposition, the omens are good.

However, so much depends on what happens up front and here the battle of the tight fives will provide the platform that could tilt the balance one way or the other. The two most experienced lock combinations in Test rugby come head-to-head, but with Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield by some way the best second-row pairing about.

If this afternoon's challenge doesn't set the adrenalin pumping for Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell, then I don't know what does.

But, perhaps, it is the front-rows that will ultimately determine today's outcome. It is imperative the technical problems so apparent against the Wallabies at scrum time have been addressed. Cian Healy will be so much better for that experience, while Hayes, like Jerry Flannery, will have benefited greatly from the run out. However much you train, there is no substitute for match conditioning.

The 'Boks, despite their traditional front-row strength, are betwixt and between as to the best combination at present. To that end skipper John Smit has moved back across one to hooker, with the dynamic Bismarck du Plessis dropping down to the bench. Ulster's BJ Botha comes in at loose head with the 'Beast' (Tendai Mtawarira) at tight.

Any sort of parity in the tight five and its game on for Ireland, given their powerful back-row geared for confrontation.

The only concern is the extraordinary ability of Brussow to extricate possession at the breakdown. I do not have the statistics, but I doubt there is any player in the game at present (Richie McCaw included) with a greater turnover ratio in the tackle. It is essential the Irish eight, supplemented by the equally robust Tomas O'Leary, dictate the tempo and point of attack relative to the ruck and maul.

There is, too, the inside information factor, with Gert Smal having coached so many of these players in his time with Jake White in the Springbok camp. Against that is the presence in the match-day 22 of three South African players playing their rugby here -- Botha at Ulster, CJ van der Linde with Leinster and centre Jean de Villiers just recently moved to Munster. Changed times indeed.

The Irish back line, despite the unfortunate loss of Luke Fitzgerald, still has a menacing look about it. Keith Earls will not weaken it one iota as it is basically a case of replacing like with like.

I think it is also worth recording that the three replacement backs on the Irish bench this afternoon -- Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara and Gordon D'Arcy have a 'mere' 226 caps between them.

On the statistical front Kidney's side stand on the threshold of going through the full calendar year unbeaten. South Africa have lost just three of their last 11 tests -- most recently to France and one each to the Wallabies and Lions in the summer.

incentive

There is, too, the substantial incentive of three wins on the bounce over the 'Boks for Ireland. And, of course, the unofficial World title between Six Nations and Tri Nations champions in the battle of the hemispheres.

But, in the final analysis, it comes down to pride. Forget South African end-of-season fatigue or Irish early-season appetite -- this, in a match of such competitive intensity -- will come down to whichever side wants it the more.

Peter De Villiers' selection smacks of one designed to do a smash-and-grab job. Much, though, I hope I am wrong, the make-up of the South African eight, allied to Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn in game-running mode at half-back, still appear a tad too strong.

With precious little to separate them, it looks like South Africa -- but what price another draw?

Irish Independent