Springboks Chase Long Awaited Dublin Victory As Rivalry With Ireland Intensifies

For more than a decade, Dublin has been a frustrating stop for the Springboks. The world champions have conquered Twickenham, Marseille, Yokohama, and just about everywhere else, yet Ireland’s capital remains stubbornly undefeated ground. This weekend, South Africa heads back to the Aviva Stadium with unfinished business and a growing rivalry that has become one of the sport’s most compelling storylines.

A Rivalry That Feels Like Modern Rugby’s New Classic

Ask any Springbok supporter and they’ll tell you this fixture has shifted from polite contest to full-blown saga. Ever since the Boks’ narrow 19 16 defeat in 2022, the meetings between these two sides have carried the weight of Test rugby theatre. Every moment matters, every mistake stings, and every kick in the swirling Dublin air feels like it could tilt the match.

Cheslin Kolbe, who has yet to experience a win on Irish soil, didn’t shy away from calling the duel what it has become: one of rugby’s fiercest modern rivalries. He says the margins have tightened, the strategies have sharpened, and the battles above the turf have grown absolutely decisive.

The Kicking Game Becomes Centre Stage

Kolbe believes the biggest evolution in global rugby is how central kicking has become, not as a last resort, but as a strategic weapon. Irish fans know this all too well. Their side has made an art of turning contestable kicks into scoring opportunities, while the Boks have used the tactic to squeeze opponents until they break.

This weekend, Kolbe expects the skies over Dublin to be as congested as the ground. “Rugby has changed a lot,” he explained. “Kicking has become a great weapon for all teams. It helps us play our game, and the Irish have been capitalising on those opportunities.”

On social media, fans are already predicting an aerial chess match. Irish supporters are confident in their backfield. South Africans, meanwhile, are posting clips of Kolbe’s and Kurt-Lee Arendse’s acrobatic takeoffs, backing the Bok wings to own the skies.

Why Dublin Has Been So Tough

South Africa’s last win in Dublin came in 2012, when the Boks edged the Irish 16 12 in a dogfight at the old Aviva. Since then, Ireland’s rise under Joe Schmidt and later Andy Farrell has transformed their home turf into one of rugby’s most intimidating fortresses.

Locals view this fixture as a benchmark of Irish excellence. For South Africans, it has begun to feel like an overdue correction. Both nations take immense pride in smart, structured rugby, which is why their matchups so often produce razor thin scorelines.

Kolbe knows exactly what to expect. “If you aren’t up for it, they can hurt you,” he said. His assessment is blunt: the Aviva will deliver a bruising, physical Test.

No Revenge, Only Standards

Even with all the murmurs about payback for 2022 or proving a point on the road, Kolbe insists the Springboks don’t operate on revenge. Their mentality stays consistent, whether playing at Loftus or Lansdowne Road.

“It’s not about revenge,” he told reporters. “Every Test we prepare to impose ourselves and to win.”

That mindset has become part of the Bok identity. Physicality, discipline, aerial excellence, and the ability to squeeze games into pressure cookers is what South Africa does best. If they bring all of that to Dublin, the Aviva’s long-held chokehold might finally loosen.

What’s Next

Rassie Erasmus will name his matchday 23 tomorrow, adding another layer of anticipation as fans speculate about combinations, back three selections, and whether the famed Bomb Squad will return in full force.

Kickoff is set for 19h40 SA time, and whether you’re watching from Joburg, Cape Town, or a packed pub in Temple Bar, one thing is certain: this isn’t just another Test match. It is a chance for the Springboks to rewrite a chapter that has remained unfinished for 13 years.

And if they pull it off, Dublin may just hear the echoes of a long overdue celebration.

{Source:SABC Sport}

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