IRELAND

IRELAND’s officials face the prospect of losing out to South Africa in the tussle to host the 2023 World Cup, but on the pitch the players can make the Springboks suffer next weekend. Joe Schmidt’s side, No 4 in the world, have joined England in taking giant strides towards smashing the southern stranglehold. They will be without some leading lights in Garry Ringrose, Josh van der Flier, Jared Payne and Jamie Heaslip, while Simon Zebo has been dropped. But Connacht’s Kiwi centre Bundee Aki has been called up after qualifying and Ireland will again trouble all-comers with a tenacious pack creating a platform for the creative hub of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton to wreak havoc. Prediction: 3/3.

FIXTURES: Nov 11 v S Africa, Nov 18 v Fiji, Nov 25 v Argentina.