Springboks vs Ireland: The Rematch in Dublin, Will They Break the Curse?

Rassie Erasmus’ Crossroads: The Irish Challenge for the Springboks

In the world of rugby, the relationship between Rassie Erasmus and the Irish team is defined by a fine line that separates respect and affection from frustration and the ambition to win. The clash between South Africa and Ireland at the Aviva Stadium is much more than a match; it is a crucial test for the Springboks and another chapter in Erasmus’s complex history with Irish rugby. Although Erasmus has tried to downplay any personal element in this encounter, the connection between him and the stadium is undeniable. For the Springboks, obtaining a victory in Dublin is one of the few challenges they have yet to overcome. Since the victory in the 2023 World Cup, the Springboks have achieved significant triumphs in places like Twickenham, the Principality Stadium, and Murrayfield. This year, they defeated France in Paris, despite playing with 14 men for a considerable part of the match. Furthermore, they secured consecutive victories against the Wallabies in Australia and a historic defeat of the All Blacks in Wellington. Added to this are notable achievements such as winning two World Cups, a series against the British & Irish Lions, and two consecutive Rugby Championship titles.

However, winning in Dublin has been an unfinished task. The last time South Africa achieved it was 13 years ago, under the direction of Heyneke Meyer. The outcome of this match could define the Springboks’ season. A victory would raise their record to 11 wins in 13 matches, before facing Wales in Cardiff. “It would be a great season if that happens,” commented Erasmus. A defeat, on the other hand, could change the general perception, reminding detractors of the defeat against the Wallabies in Johannesburg and the cold afternoon in Dublin.

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“So, it’s probably not going to be a great season. We still have to play against Wales, but I think it will define us in some way. We will try to maintain our own reality,” he added. In short: it’s a crucial match.

Rassie Erasmus

The Springboks have been close to beating Ireland, but have been defeated in four of their last five encounters. “We always came back in the last minutes, but we never managed to secure the victories,” Erasmus told Supersport this week. “In one out of five occasions we did well, but the challenge now is to do it once more against our old rivals.”

The first of these encounters was in November 2017, when Erasmus’ Boks lost 38-3 against Ireland. Five years later, in Dublin, Ireland won 19-16. Then, in the Rugby World Cup of September 2023 in Paris, Ireland won 13-8 in a memorable match.

Erasmus used that pain to motivate his team, who then won the World Cup. In July 2024, Ireland traveled to South Africa for a two-match series. The Boks won in Pretoria 27-20, but Ciaran Frawley’s drop-goal secured an Irish victory 24-22 in Durban, marking the Boks’ first defeat there since 2016. Erasmus remembers the key moments of the defeats, as if they were etched in his mind. “If you look at the World Cup scoreboards; the maul at the end, they kept us there. In 2022, Josh van der Flier kept his foot out of the field, but they scored a vital try. In Durban, the drop-goal in the last minute. We weren’t far off, we weren’t outplayed, but we didn’t make it.” In addition to the recent history, Erasmus’ time in Munster, almost a decade ago, adds another layer of complexity. In April 2016, he was appointed director of rugby at the Irish club, where he worked with Anthony “Axel” Foley. Foley’s tragic death in October of that year shocked the team. Erasmus led the team to the PRO12 final and the Champions Cup semi-final, both at the Aviva Stadium. In June 2017, he accepted the position of director of rugby of the Springboks, taking Jacques Nienaber with him.

Although the province understood their decision, the departure of Erasmus and Nienaber left a mark on Irish rugby. Erasmus has acknowledged the influence of his experience in Ireland on his philosophy. “I think if you speak to most Irish coaches and players, I have learned many things that I want to take to South Africa,” Erasmus said in Dublin. “It’s more the respect I have learned here for discipline and the way they do things.” This has contributed to his remarkable success with the Boks, but despite personal ties and the importance of winning in Dublin, Erasmus tries to avoid having his story be the center of attention. “You want to tick something off that you’ve never done. I’d be lying if I said that,” he stated.

“It’s not revenge, it’s a competitive environment with a team that has been among the top four in the world in the last two years. There’s excitement, it’s something we haven’t done, we’re going to try. If it’s about me, we’re talking about the wrong things. It’s not personal”.

Rassie Erasmus

Ireland is ready for the challenge. “There’s definitely a rivalry,” said Ireland captain Caelan Doris. “There’s a strong understanding of how we both want to play. We’ve had good results. They’ve also beaten us there in 2024. Yeah, there’s a lot at stake.” For the Springboks, a victory at Aviva Stadium remains a pending goal. Erasmus achieved a victory on Irish soil in 1998, at the old Lansdowne Road. The new stadium in the same location remains an outstanding challenge. Regardless of Saturday’s result, Erasmus’s name will inevitably be linked to the narrative of this encounter.