As the Quilter Nations Series reaches its climax, Ireland prepare to face reigning Rugby World Cup champions South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, 22 November, with a 17:40 GMT kick-off. The encounter promises to be a pivotal test for Andy Farrell’s squad, providing a clear measure of the team’s progress ahead of future international challenges.

Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan, who made his international debut against Japan in November 2021, described the upcoming clash with the Springboks as “a great marker” to gauge the team’s level. The fixture will conclude Ireland’s November internationals, following a mixed series of results that have offered valuable lessons.

Ireland’s Form Heading Into South Africa Test

So far in the November internationals, Ireland’s campaign has included:

• A narrow defeat to New Zealand in Chicago
• Convincing wins over Japan and Australia at the Aviva Stadium

Sheehan acknowledged the challenge of facing South Africa, saying:

“We’ve had some proper battles with them over the past couple of years. It’s always an exciting game to be a part of, and I think everyone’s really looking forward to getting up for the world champions coming to town and see where we are. We’ve been building nicely every week so far after maybe a slow start.”

Line-Out Improvements and Set-Piece Confidence

In recent weeks, Ireland’s line-out had faced scrutiny, but Sheehan insisted that internal confidence remained high. Leinster’s forward praised his team’s performance in the 46-19 victory over Australia, noting that minor errors were being addressed effectively.

“To be honest, I thought the media around it the last couple of weeks was out of proportion and a lot of panic stations outside the camp, but it hasn’t been like that inside the camp. We all knew it was minor fixes and basically human errors. That’s life, and you just get on with it. I don’t think anyone panicked, and we had the right people in the room to sort it out, and it all came together at the weekend.”

Despite improvements, Sheehan emphasized that there are still areas requiring focus, including discipline, defense in the 22-meter zone, and managing the second 20 minutes of halves more efficiently.

Ireland’s Gameplan Against South Africa

Looking ahead to Saturday, Sheehan confirmed that Ireland will approach the game with an attacking mindset, while remaining mindful of the Springboks’ physicality:

“Physicality is always talked about when you put on an Irish jersey, but of course when you come up against the world champions it’s got to be at the forefront of your mind. But also, you can’t let it overtake your mind – we have to focus on ourselves and make sure we bring our gameplan to the table and not wait and see what they bring.”

A key area of focus for Ireland will be defense around the ruck, particularly against South Africa’s big ball carriers and fast-paced attacking style. Training sessions have emphasized preparation to counter these threats while maintaining composure and executing the team’s strategic plan.

“Probably a big part of the game coming up this weekend is the defence in and around the ruck. They obviously have some big ball carriers and play sort of quick on top of you, trying to narrow you up so that they can exploit in the wider channels. It has been a focus, and we’ve covered the bases there and implemented that in training.”

Match Details and Broadcast

• Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
• Date: Saturday, 22 November 2025
• Kick-Off: 17:40 GMT
• Coverage: Listen on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Live, and BBC Radio Ulster; live text updates available on the BBC Sport website and app

This showdown against South Africa will not only test Ireland’s skills and tactical adaptability but also provide insights into where the team stands as they prepare for the 2026 international season.