RASSIE: WE KNOW FANS HAVE IRELAND HUNGRY FOR ANOTHER BIG SCALP

FELIX Jones and Jerry Flannery are doing a fantastic job as part of the Springboks coaching set-up.

- BY DEREK FOLEY

But the Dublin-born assistant coach and the Limerick-born defence coach have, inadvertently, helped put the wind up the South Africans ahead of tomorrow's game at the Aviva.

The Irish duo had commandeered the remote controls last week, ensuring ‘the 'Boks took in the Ireland-Portugal and Hungary-ireland football games on their travels = and even Rassie Erasmus was impressed with the Boys in Green.

The South African coach says he has been put on red alert, aware that the country's gone sport mad and that, this week, his back-to-back world champions are target No.3!

“I know! We all saw that game, Felix had us watching that game, even though we were in different stages of preparation and travel, and some guys were in a plane at one point, but they were watching the game and you guys just beat them.

“So we know all about that and you guys are qualified and the guys, Felix and Jerry, were really proud for it and know that it's massive for the whole community.

“We know things like that are fantastic, we appreciate what the Irish fans are saying and we are seeing this Saturday as such, it is a privilege to be seen as the next 'red meat’ and we understand that!”

Erasmus shies away from the idea that Ireland and South Africa are specific rugby rivals, despite two defeats from three games in this Rugby World Cup cycle.