South Africa vs Ireland Prediction & Betting Tips - Rugby World Cup

Prediction published on 21/09/2023, 13:41  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 23/09/2023 at 07:00 in Rugby World Cup Prediction

Defending champions South Africa take on world number one ranked Ireland in the Rugby World Cup. This is a Pool B fixture and Ireland top the table a point ahead of their opponents after two games. These are the only two teams in the pool who have earned any points so far. Scotland are third and Tonga fourth, both with a game in hand, while Romania are bottom after two heavy defeats. Whoever wins this match is almost certain to finish top of the pool. That's likely to give them a quarter final match against New Zealand with the runners up in this group up against France. South Africa began their defence of their world title with an 18-3 win over Scotland. That was followed by almost an entirely different line-up beating Romania 76-0. The big guns will be back for this match as the Springboks look to extend their six-game unbeaten run. Only one of their last ten matches has been lost.

Ireland beat South Africa last year but that was played in Dublin. Only once have they won against South Africa away from home. Only seven of their 17 games against South Africa have been won and this is only the second time the two sides have met since 2017. It's their first ever meeting in the Rugby World Cup and it's hard to pick a winner. Ireland won the Grand Slam in the Six Nations this year but have a poor World Cup record having never got past the last eight. They have scored 141 points in their first two games of this pool. An 82-8 win over Romania and then a 59-16 victory against Tonga. Ireland have gone 16 games without defeat, the last loss being to New Zealand in July 2022. This is going to be close and we go for South Africa to get the victory.