Farrell relishing contest

Ireland boss Andy Farrell is not short on enthusiasm with regard to this weekend’s clash between his charges and the World Champion Springboks.

It is always an occasion with plenty of needle and attrition and, given the state of both teams at present, this time will be no different.

The Boks will take the pitch with some extra steel in their determination as they aim to avenge an unflattering result which occurred last time they crossed swords with the Irish:

Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Farrell voiced his zeal for what lies ahead.

"No, honestly, it doesn’t get any bigger,” he said.

"I have said this to the players. This is called living properly.

"There's no better time to be an Irish rugby player, (Ireland A) meeting New Zealand XV on Friday night and performing for the group, and then backing up the next day with the other lads.

"It doesn’t really get any better. When the Springboks are in town, everyone gets super excited.

"And we know what's coming, everyone else knows what's coming, which is why everyone else is super-excited.

"We'll play this game and, for whoever is picked the week after (against Fiji), that will be the biggest game.

"Because for the public, wow, this is as big as it gets and we 100% get that.

"But I promise you, next week for whoever takes the field that will be their biggest game as well.

"The week after that will be the biggest game again because they are under the spotlight the whole time they know they are going to be judged so therefore the feelings are pretty similar.

"But having said that there's no doubt there is going to be an extra edge on Saturday night."

When asked about the importance of the Test in the context of the looming World Cup, Farrell smiled and said, “The ultimate test, because it’s the next one.

"Before the tour in the summer, the 18 months to what we know is ahead (the World Cup) is perfect for us.

"The tour was special in its own right, just because of the experience.

"Even if we had lost 5-0 on that tour, it still would have been great for us because of the experience for that group and what they faced, different cultures, different styles of players.

"I’ve probably been in this situation loads of times,” he added. “But when you look back that game was not probably as big as it was at the time.

"There are always games that mean a lot, like when you're 1-1 in a series or one down within a series and there are two more to go and it is do-or-die in the next game.

"So they're all pretty important, especially when you're playing for your country."