The tastiest summer test series this year has to be the two-test series between South Africa and Ireland. The back-to-back World Champions are still to beat Ireland under Rassie Erasmus and were beaten by Ireland in the pool stage of the Rugby World Cup last year before going on to win the tournament.
Ireland on the other hand have never won a test series in South Africa and having overcome the other Southern Hemispheres sides in Australia and New Zealand away in the recent past they're looking to complete the trifecta and get that coveted series win in South Africa.
Both teams will be looking to put their best foot forward over two matches in July but the Springboks could be without a key man after a ban was announced today.
On his last game for Leicester Tigers against the Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership last weekend, Springbok Jasper Wiese was sent off after a TMO review of his shocking clearout on Chiefs' number 8 Ross Vincent. Wiese had lifted Vincent above the horizontal and dropped him on his head in what was ultimately one of the easier red card decisions of the season.
“The red mist descended” 😳
A moment of madness from Jasper Wiese and he sees red on his final @LeicesterTigers appearance 🔴#GallagherPrem | #LEIvEXE pic.twitter.com/SDb4R00jLA
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 18, 2024
Subsequently Wiese has now received a 6-game ban which will run over the summer for South Africa. Currently he is to miss the Springboks' matches against Wales in June, Portugal and the two-test series against Ireland in July as well as the Springboks' first two matches of the Rugby Championship against Australia in August.
It will surely give South Africa Head Coach Rassie Erasmus a headache as now he will be without his top two choices at number 8 he had at the last World Cup in Wiese and Duane Vermuelen.
Vermuelen retired from the sport after the World Cup and has paved the way for Wiese to become the outright first string number 8 for the Springboks but will now miss the opportunity to cement his place this summer.
However, unfortunately for Irish fans South Africa still have a wealth of talent in that position for the summer series. Stormers man Evan Roos was the last number 8 that wasn't Vermuelen or Wiese to start for South Africa.
That was back in 2022 against England at Twickenham and since then Roos has been knocking on the Erasmus' door with his good form for the Stormers in the URC.
Kwagga Smith is also an option Erasmus could go for. Smith is a Swiss army knife of a player and with a sevens background he has been used as cover across the backline as well as the backrow.
So no matter who Erasmus picks Ireland will have a tough tasks on their hands. It's never an easy game when you play the Springboks in South Africa and Ireland will have to be in top form if they are to make history out there in July.
READ ALSO: Hugo Keenan News Leaves Andy Farrell To Make Big South Africa Tour Call
