Ireland ready to make history

Ireland's new defence coach Andy Farrell said they will have to "front up" and "challenge" the Springboks when they meet at Newlands (June 11), Ellis Park (June 18) and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (June 25).

Ireland have been in camp since the weekend and fly out to South Africa this coming Sunday.

"We need to make sure that we create this bond and belief that we're going to go to South Africa and be very determined to create history over there," Farrell said.

Having been dumped by England, he is looking forward to his role with Ireland.

"It is a fantastically exciting challenge," Farrell said, adding: "We are going to South Africa for three Tests and we have never won over there."

Ireland, in seven Tests against the Boks on SA soil, have only once come close to a win – losing 10-12 in Durban in 1981.

Their biggest defeat was 0-33 in Pretoria in 1998 – to this day one of the most spiteful Tests between the two countries.

However, Farrell is excited about facing the Boks first up since his move across the Irish Sea.

"It is a great start for myself and it is what you want as a coach, you want those type of challenges and I look forward to them."

He doesn't expect the Springboks to chance much, despite suggestion that there could be a more 'expansive' game under new coach Allister Coetzee.

"Everyone knows how they will be," Farrell said, adding: "No matter how they want to try and shape their game plan in a different way – they have got what they got.

"They have X-factor in the ball carrying and they want to try and run over the top of you and create dominance there, get on a roll and play off the back of that.

"They do have some good, genuine gas on the outside as well and they offer a threat all over the field.

"We have to make sure that we front up, obviously, and we have to make sure we throw a challenge back as well."