Kidney set for tough battle

Irish chief expects South Africa to come out fighting

By Nicola Bamford   Last updated: 26th November 2009  

Kidney set for tough battle

Kidney: Remains realistic

I regret South Africa's recent results because it means we're now being lined up.

Declan Kidney
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Ireland coach Declan Kidney refuses to be deceived by South Africa's collapse in form ahead of their clash on Saturday.

The Springboks have only a single victory - over Italy - under their belt from their European tour, following defeats to Leicester, Saracens and France.

The Croke Park showdown puts the world champions against the Grand Slam winners, in a contest that is being billed as the "battle of the hemispheres".

And Kidney fears the opposition will be riled by recent setbacks and determined to end their season with a bang.

"I regret South Africa's recent results because it means we're now being lined up," he said.

"They've beaten the Lions and have won the Tri-Nations, so will be disappointed at the way things have gone in the last couple of matches.

Realistic

"This will be the last game of their season and we know we're bit of a target. Because of their recent results, we know they'll have targeted us even more.

"Beating us on our own patch would be a fine end to the season."

The South African squad has been ravaged by injury, but Kidney has no doubt in the quality of players still available to them.

"At the start, Italy were getting the upper hand in some of the scrummaging areas and winning their own line-out," the 50-year-old explained.

"But when South Africa made their changes towards the end of the match, they were giving Italy a rough time and were controlling the game.

"That's not done easily against Italy. I expect those players that came on against Italy will start against us."

Grand Slam Winner 2010 Win Outright: Ireland 5/1

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