Paul O'Connell expecting big lineout challenge from the Boks

Paul O'Connell expects Ireland's lineout will hold the key for Saturday's first Test against world champions South Africa against Pretoria.

When O'Connell's side won 13-8 when the sides last met at the Rugby World Cup in September, the Springboks did a job on the Irish lineout, particularly early on.

All four of Ireland's opening lineouts were either stolen or lost under pressure, and although Ireland's setpiece improved as the game wore on, they still lost six of their of their own throws over the 80 minutes, for a 66% return.

They'll face similar pressure from the Boks on Saturday in Pretoria, who have retained their second row pairing of Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert from that day last year, both of whom led the attack on the Irish lineout.

"It's always a big factor against them. They are an excellent setpiece side, they are an excellent lineout side, they always have been," O'Connell said of the pressure South Africa will put on the Irish throw.

"They caught us out at the start of the game in the World Cup. It was pretty frustrating, disappointing but I was delighted with how the players managed their way through it and got through it. It will always be a challenge.

"Two of their lineout operators Mostert and Etzebeth are two of the best in the business, Etzebeth is very good at the front of the lineout. Mostert generally covers everything at the back of the lineout. They are a really good side."

The Ireland squad continued preparations for Saturday's first Test at Loftus Versfeld this afternoon, with all players taking part in this afternoon's session at St Peter's College in Johannesburg, which has been their training base since arriving in South Africa last week.

O'Connell says they haven't been dwelling on those lineout issues in training.

"We have been a little bit specific about them, but it has been mainly about doing our stuff a little bit better across the board.

"Boys enjoy doing that, we enjoy focusing on ourselves. I think you have to focus on what the opposition are going to do but by and large we focus on ourselves probably a little bit more than back in my playing days. I certainly enjoy it as a coach as well," he added.

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus showed his hand early this week by naming his matchday squad this afternoon, 48 hours before Ireland head coach Andy Farrell reveals his selection.

Eleven of Saturday's starting Springboks also started against Ireland last year, with 20 of the 23 players from their World Cup final win involved this weekend.

Similarly, Ireland are expected to name a tried and trusted XV to take on the world champions, and O'Connell (below) says the stakes don't get much higher.

"They are world champions, they have good continuity in their playing group, they know what they stand for and I'd say there is a lot of confidence in their group at the moment. It’s a massive challenge for us to be away from home and down here, but our boys are looking forward to it.

"It’s a big thing for any team that is successful, is that kind of continuity. You look at any of the club sides that have been successful in recent times they have continuity of coaching, continuity of players, continuity of leadership. They are in a strong position and it is an excellent side that they have named."

For both sides, their World Cup involvement has made it a grueling season, with the Irish squad now into their 13th month of the campaign. while the South African Test season is continuing through the summer, with just a short break before they get down to business in the Rugby Championship.

But O'Connell doesn't expect tiredness to be an excuse in the coming weeks.

"We are lucky in terms of how we manage the players. It's probably been a long year but the players have gotten plenty of time off in the year, weeks where you are not training, you are not playing, you don’t have the mental pressure that comes with a game.

"Whenever we have come on tour in the last few years, or whenever we have come together after a particularly heavy period with the provinces we have always noticed our players, there is never a feeling that we have to manage them or manage their load. We haven’t felt that over here.

"Andy [Farrell] and the staff would have a good feel for that but we haven’t felt the need to do so. Players feel, fresh, good and they feel ready. I know that South Africa have a few players away playing in France but a lot of them are home based and they get that chance to manage them and manage their load as well.

"There won’t be an asterisk after the result, saying who was fresher."