Enjoying it.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup has gone off almost without a hitch for Ireland so far, with two big bonus-point victories in their opening two pool matches – but things won’t be so easy when they face the Springboks on Saturday.

It’s a game that Ireland have been prepping towards for the last three years. A date with the defending world champions where they have an opportunity to finally prove they can compete at rugby’s showpiece event.

Ireland head into this weekend’s fixture with what looks like to be a full selection of players available, with in-form hooker Dan Sheehan in line to make a timely return, but South Africa remain slight favourites.

But Ireland defence coach Simon Easterbys says they are confident in their game ahead of this weekend.

“I think everyone always knew this game was the big game we had in the first three rounds,” Easterby said.

“We built up nicely through Romania and Tonga and have ironed out a few things in our attack and the same defensively. We were tested way more against Tonga so I think we always knew this was going to be the pivotal game leading up to Scotland two weeks after.

“People will talk about South Africa and what they will bring but we’re confident and trust in what we’ve been doing, not just recently, but in the last one and half, two years.

“When we play well and in a certain way we are difficult to play against and difficult to beat. This is what we have been building towards so hopefully people will see a bit of that on Saturday.”

And the pressure doesn’t seem to be getting to the Irish players one bit either after this brilliant photo of Keith Earls and Peter O’Mahony in France went viral this evening. We’re not sure what’s better – Earls hanging off the back or those crocs on O’Mahony!