Springboks' innovation is putting eyeballs on the game

IRELAND'S vastly experienced No 8, Jack Conan, says the Springboks are reinventing rugby, but his team "love a challenge" and cannot wait to tackle the South Africans on Saturday in Dublin.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

While it is an uncomfortable fact for the Springboks that they have lost four of their last five games against the Irish, and have never won in Dublin under Rassie Erasmus, the Boks have grown their game significantly over the past year or so, while many feel Ireland have regressed.

Eighteen months ago, the teams drew a series 1-1 in South Africa. Recently, the Irish played poorly in losing to New Zealand in Chicago and in beating Japan in Dublin, but they were much improved in thrashing the Wallabies 46-19 last week.

“You always want to be playing well, but the reality of international rugby is it can’t always go your way,” said Conan.