South Africa vs Ireland Rugby World Cup Prediction & Picks: Will the Springboks Make a Statement at the Stade de France?

The pool play schedule for the 2023 Rugby World Cup doesn’t feature many matchups between tournament favorites, but one such crucial encounter is set for today, as South Africa and Ireland, the top two teams in world rugby, will meet tonight at the Stade de France (3:00 pm ET, Peacock).

This Pool B clash of the titans won’t determine who ends up winning the Webb Ellis Cup at this same venue on October 28. After all, this pool is matched up with Pool A. So, that means France and New Zealand await in the quarterfinals, and neither of those is a favorable matchup.

Still, that doesn’t diminish the profile of this matchup by any means.

On one side, you have the reigning Rugby World Cup winners, who are looking to win a record fourth title.

On the other, you have the top-ranked team in the world, who is chasing a first-ever world championship and has opened the tournament by scoring 141 points in two games.

There have not been many close matches thus far in the tournament, with Fiji’s matches against Wales and Australia the only matches to be decided by seven or fewer points. Will we be treated to a thriller in this tilt?

South Africa vs Ireland Odds

Odds are via Bovada as of 4:55 am ET Saturday, September 23, 2023.

Spread

• South Africa -1 (-110)
• Ireland +1 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 44.5 (-110)
• Over 44.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• South Africa -118
• Ireland +113
• Draw +2300

Will Scoring Be Scarce at the Stade de France?

When these teams last met, Ireland edged South Africa 19-16 in Dublin last November.

South Africa vs Ireland Recent Head-to-Head Results

• Ireland 19-16 (November 5, 2022 – Dublin)
• Ireland 38-3 (November 11, 2017 – Dublin)
• SA 19-13 (June 25, 2016 – Port Elizabeth, South Africa)
• SA 32-26 (June 18, 2016 – Johannesburg)
• Ireland 26-20 (June 11, 2016 – Cape Town)
• Ireland 29-15 SA (November 8, 2014 – Dublin)
• SA 16-12 (November 10, 2012 – Dublin)
• SA 23-21 (November 6, 2010 – Dublin)
• Ireland 15-10 SA (November 28, 2009 – Dublin)
• Ireland 32-15 SA (November 11, 2006 – Dublin)

In 27 all-time meetings, South Africa have an 18-8-1 advantage over Ireland, with the lone draw taking place in Dublin in 1970.

That the most recent meeting was a fairly low-scoring game is no surprise, given the defensive records on both sides.

Since wrapping up last year’s three-match series with New Zealand with a 32-22 win over the All Blacks in Wellington, Ireland have allowed 21 or fewer points in 13 consecutive matches.

South Africa, meanwhile, have not allowed more than 21 points in 13 of their last 15 matches. The exceptions in that bunch are a 30-26 loss to France in Marseille the week after their aforementioned loss in Dublin and a 35-20 loss to New Zealand in this year’s Rugby Championship.

That is the Springboks’ only loss in their last ten games, and since they fell in Auckland in July, they have won six straight.

Last Six Matches for South Africa

• 76-0 W vs Romania (2023 Rugby World Cup)
• 18-3 W vs Scotland (2023 Rugby World Cup)
• 35-7 W vs New Zealand (Rugby World Cup warm-up)
• 52-16 W vs Wale (Rugby World Cup warm-up)
• 24-13 W vs Argentina (Rugby World Cup warm-up)
• 22-21 W vs Argentina (2023 Rugby Championship)

That is definitely impressive, but Ireland are on an even more eye-popping run.

Since a 42-19 loss to New Zealand in the first match of last year’s series against the All Blacks, Ireland have won 15 consecutive matches, not counting a friendly against the Maori All Blacks on that same tour.

With three more wins, they will tie New Zealand (August 2015 to October 2016) and England (October 2015 to March 2017) for the most consecutive wins by a Tier 1 nation. Interestingly, both of those streaks were ended by Ireland.

Last Six Matches for Ireland

• 59-16 W vs Tonga (2023 Rugby World Cup)
• 82-8 W vs Romania (2023 Rugby World Cup)
• 17-13 W vs Samoa (Rugby World Cup warm-up)
• 29-10 W vs England (Rugby World Cup warm-up)
• 33-17 W vs Italy (Rugby World Cup warm-up)
• 29-16 W vs England (2023 Six Nations)

Three more wins–with the third likely against New Zealand–would also put Ireland into the Rugby World Cup semifinals for the first time. It’s a bit early to look that far ahead, but in that match, they would be firm favorites to get past Argentina, Australia, Fiji, or Wales, as the other quarterfinal on their side of the bracket pits the winner of Pool C against the Pool D runner-up.

Could the reward for breaking the record be a rematch with South Africa? There are a lot of matches between now and October 28, but that is a very tantalizing prospect.

South Africa vs Ireland Prediction and Picks

Prediction: South Africa to win

Picks: South Africa ML (-118 at Bovada) & South Africa/Ireland under 44.5 (-110 at Bovada)

This just feels like one of those games that the Springboks will find a way to win. Only once have Ireland won three consecutive matches against South Africa, and I don’t think that they will match that feat today.

Also, of the 27 previous matches between the two sides, 21 have finished under 44.5.

Where to Bet on the 2023 Rugby World Cup

While rugby may not be one of the most widely watched or bet on sports in the United States, the Rugby World Cup always draws a lot of attention.

In fact, you can find 2023 Rugby World Cup odds at many of the top sports betting sites available to bettors in the USA.

In addition to Bovada, here are some of the online sportsbooks that we recommend which offer odds on each game in the tournament, as well as Rugby World Cup winner futures odds:

• BetOnline
• BetUS
• MyBookie
• Sportsbetting.ag

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our in-depth reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds. Happy betting, and please bet responsibly.