‘We are ready for the world’s No 2 ranked team’ – Rassie Erasmus ups the ante ahead of first Test against Ireland

In sticking with their tradition, South Africa are set to show their hand early ahead of Saturday week's first Test against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld.

Rassie Erasmus tends to name his team early in the week, and true to form, the Springboks supremo will publicly announce his side on Tuesday.

Ireland arrived in Johannesburg yesterday and were due to train for the first time at their South African base today, while the Boks, since returning from London earlier in the week, have held a camp in Pretoria.

“We had a good and productive training week despite our flight from London to South Africa being cancelled on Sunday night, and it was pleasing to see how the players who joined us this week stepped back into Test mode and got stuck in at training,” said Erasmus.

“Some of the players have been in our set-up for a while, which certainly assisted, and the new players also wasted no time familiarising themselves with the systems and we are pleased with how they slotted in.”

The Springboks returned to South Africa on Tuesday, where they were joined by the rest of their team-mates named in Erasmus’ 39-man squad.

They had two further training sessions on Wednesday and finished the week with their final field session this morning. The squad will return home for the weekend to spend time with their families and reassemble on Sunday.

Upping the ante ahead of the eagerly-awaited two-Test series, Erasmus was keen to remind Ireland of their place in the world order.

“I believe we are in the right frame of mind for the challenge ahead against the world’s No 2 ranked team,” the former Munster boss said

“We had a chance this week to analyse what we did well against Wales and the areas we need to put more emphasis on going into the Ireland Tests, and we were delighted with the professional manner in which the players made the mind-set switch to the series.

“There is a huge excitement in the group for the challenge ahead and that was evident on and off the field this week.

“Everyone knows that a big step-up is required next week, but we are pleased with the momentum we built up by defeating Wales and getting international game time under the belt.

“Obviously with new members on our coaching staff, the overseas-based players and new recruits will have some work to do to ensure the entire group is fully aligned in terms of our new structures, but this week served as a good start in that process.”

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