To date South Africa suffered defeat to France in a fiercely-competitive Test in Toulouse as well as to both Leicester and Saracens when not fielding full-strength sides.
The world champions did record a 32-10 victory over Italy last weekend and Declan Kidney is hoping to guide Ireland to an unbeaten year in 2009.
Coach Kidney said: “I regret the results South Africa have had on their tour. We are sort of lined up, really. The have beaten the Lions in their three-game series. They have won the Tri Nations.
“Not too many teams go to the South of France and win. That defeat to France then will be the one which will disappoint them.
“Mid-week matches, like the ones South Africa played against Leicester and Saracens, are hugely commercially attractive fixtures, but they are difficult for the touring sides because of the travelling and logistics involved. This is the last game’s of South Africa’s season. We know we are a bit of a target for them.
“I am sure, what their results so far on the tour have done, is target us even more.
“It would be a fine finish to their season, to beat us on our own patch.
“I think they will be well motivated on Saturday.”
The big talking point from Kidney’s team selection for Saturday was his surprise decision to name Jonathan Sexton at out-half instead of the vastly experienced Ronan O’Gara.
Otherwise Kidney has kept faith with the XV that drew 20-20 with Australia in Ireland’s autumn opener with Keith Earls replacing knee injury victim Luke Fitzgerald.
Ronan O’Gara will be 34 by the time the next World Cup arrives in 2011 and there has been a critical lack of depth at fly-half, until Sexton’s arrival.
The Springboks will offer a clearer picture of whether Sexton is the solution and Kidney admitted he needed to see him properly tested.
“I know we have a world-class outside-half in Ronan (O’Gara), but we have to find out things about ourselves,” Kidney said this week.
“Jonathan had a good game last week, but with respect Fiji were short of a few so it was difficult to read. I need to find out more.
“Ronan is disappointed, but is the perfect pro. He’s taken it on the chin, has continued training and has contributed to the team exactly as he would normally.
“It was a difficult call, but that doesn’t really matter. My job is to pick an Ireland team and that’s what I’ve done.”
There was disappointment for Limerick scrum-half Eoin Reddan who was not included in the match day 22 for the big game.
Munster scrum-half Peter Stringer was named among the replacements instead of Leinster star Reddan who started last week’s tie against Fiji at the RDS.
IRELAND TEAM
Rob Kearney (Leinster); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O’Driscoll (Capt) (Leinster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster), Keith Earls (Munster); Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Tomas O’Leary (Munster); Cian Healy (Leinster), Jerry Flannery (Munster), John Hayes (Munster); Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Paul O’Connell (Munster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), David Wallace (Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: Sean Cronin (Connacht), Tony Buckley (Munster), Leo Cullen (Leinster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Peter Stringer (Munster), Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster).
Colm Kinsella
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