South Africa v Ireland: Rugby World Cup 2023 – live

Rob Kitson sees this as the chance to make statement for the rest of the tournament.

What does this match mean to you at this stage of the tournament? Tell me everything on the e-mither if you so wish.

Much pre-match talk has concerned the Springboks 7:1 split on the bench, with sensible pondering of the inherent risk of having only a scrum-half as backs cover; while the more loco takes have declared it immoral. There is method to it, though. Ireland have a mobile and dymanic game with much expected of the forwards, so having nearly two entire packs to burn themselves out defending, dominating and therefore negating this opposition strength is unusual but not unhinged.

Other than this, both sides have gone with what would be expected. Ireland’s first choice match squad is more predictable than Jonny Wilkinson making no sense on television and South Africa’s 23 is not too far off that.

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Cobus Reinach

Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw

It's Paris for one the marquee fixtures of the pool stages as the Springboks take on Ireland, a clash of teams fancied to take the whole damn show.

Huge import has been heaped upon this match for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it should be a titanic battle of two of the best teams, with the whole ‘putting a marker down’ narrative to the fore. Although, I’m not sure how much store I would put in that, myself, given we remain three weeks out from the business end of the tournament. Second, it will likely decide who tops the group given the smart money is on these two sides progressing – although Scotland may still have something to say about that.

On current predictions, topping the group would lead to a likely clash with the All Blacks and Fiji or Argentina waiting in the semis; runner-up means France next, then a semi with England or Wales. Not a huge amount between those two routes, so depending on how you wish to look at it, the result of this game means a huge amount or ultimately very little.

Whatever the context, though, this remains a standalone fixture to get your nerve endings going on this, the highest stage in the sport.