Ahead of tomorrow's first test, there is no doubt that Ireland face a mammoth task if they are to upset the odds and win their series in South Africa this month.
While Andy Farrell's side have a good recent record against the Springboks, facing them on their own turf will be an entirely different task. Ireland have only won once on South African soil, with that coming during their 2-1 series loss back in 2016.
The Irish have won the three meetings between the sides since then, although very few are making them favourites to keep that run going this weekend.
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Andy Farrell backed after making bold call for South Africa game
Ireland will be without some key players for this series, with the likes of Hugo Keenan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, and Jack Conan all absent for various reasons.
The team for Saturday's first test in Pretoria was largely as expected, although there was a surprise at fullback. Jamie Osborne will make his test debut in the '15' jersey, a position that he has only previously played in twice at provincial level.
It is certainly a huge decision for Andy Farrell, although he has shown in the past that he gets such calls correct more often than not.
Writing for Rugby Pass, former England star Andy Goode said that the Ireland coach has earned the right to make bold calls such as this one in recent years.
There’s the battle to call yourself the best team in the world as Ireland face world champions South Africa in their own backyard and the Irish are looking to beat the Boks four times on the spin for the first time ever.
All those previous three victories came on European soil though and it’s an altogether tougher task facing the World Cup winners on home soil, where Ireland have only ever won once before back in 2016.
It’s a bold call by Andy Farrell to pick Jamie Osborne at full back, a position he’s only twice started in for Leinster, but he’s earned the right to make those sorts of selections and be trusted.
It’s going to be an epic series between the top two ranked teams in the world and the Springboks will be tough to beat at altitude at Loftus Versfeld even for a side as fit as Ireland so they may stand more of a chance in Durban next week.
There is no doubt that South Africa will target Osborne in this game, an understandable move considering his lack of experience at both test level and in this position.
Clearly, Andy Farrell feels that he will be up to the challenge.
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