The long adieu to Lansdowne Road could hardly have a better autumnal opener. Not only are the Springboks winding back the clock as part of their centenary celebrations by donning a 100-year-old kit design, but the 5pm kick-off should ensure the old ground reverberates to the old Lansdowne Roar.

No excuses, therefore, for one of those desultory kick-offs with thousands still streaming in, even with a reduced 41,000 capacity.

Talking earlier in the week, Shane Horgan spoke of the special ambience of late-afternoon kick-offs in November under floodlights, with their "Christmassy" feel. "Wintry" would be another way of putting it, of course. The rains lashed down and the wind howled yesterday for the teams' final run-outs and though a "mostly dry" day is forecast, with winds of 15-20mph easing off, as Eddie O'Sullivan opined yesterday, wind can have as disruptive an effect on a game as rain. And nowhere can the wind be more capricious than at our dear old headquarters.

Obtaining a handle on these Springboks has been even more difficult, but some things remain cast in stone regardless of 11 changes in personnel from their last outing. John Smit will captain the Boks for the 36th time tomorrow, thereby equalling Gary Teichmann's record, and as a self-confessed member of "the old school" believes the battle lines will be drawn by the packs.

With their gargantuan pack, the Boks will clearly go after the Irish set-pieces, and the sheer size of Smit alone highlights the scale of the task facing Rory Best in his first Test start.

But that threat would assuredly be all the greater if Victor Matfield wasn't one of those frontliners either rested or injured, and even with the change at hooker there should be enough cohesion in Ireland's lineout to withstand the seemingly inevitable aerial assault on their throw.

The scrums, as ever, are a greater concern, based as much on provincial form of late, but they also have far less of a ripple effect on modern-day games. The appointment of Paul Honiss will not unduly concern Ireland, even if their seven-match winning run with him in charge came to an abrupt halt in Paris last season.

O'Sullivan admitted yesterday that Honiss, whom he described as one of the world's best referees, had an excellent game that day and Ireland's defeat was entirely "of our own making".

Honiss also, of course, had the Boks in a state of high dudgeon for allowing Ronan O'Gara's cheeky quick tap and try in the 17-12 win here two years ago.

Collision, collision, collision. The Boks, as is their wont, will look to boss these. Trench warfare, you'd presume, would suit them better. First and foremost, it will be a war, and by reinvoking their proud past, the Boks will emerge well stoked.

The 100-years-ago green jersey and blue shorts (Ireland will be in white) are a classy touch, but it's no gimmick. "I think it's a one-in-a-million jersey to have as a player," said Smit. "It must be very heart-breaking for the guys sitting home, like Monty (Percy Montgomery), Victor (Matfield), Fourie (du Preez), Bakkies (Botha) and Schalk (Burger). They would have killed to get one of these jerseys and the guys who are getting them at the jersey presentation this evening can't wait.

"It means a huge amount, it just adds to the emotion and the build-up to what I think is going to be a phenomenally huge and exciting Test match."

Opening quarters become even more crucial when facing a relatively callow and rejigged away team. Ireland need to apply the squeeze, disabuse these Boks as quickly as possible of the idea they will win and set doubts in their heads. To do that, Ireland will need to be patient and accurate with the ball in the face of what is sure to be a quick, aggressive defence.

Their arch-exponent of the intercept is Bryan Habana. Once he picks off an opposition pass and is in space, it's goodnight, and thanks for the dance. From anywhere. Closer to the action as a converted centre, his threat is potentially just as pronounced.

Habana actually played at scrumhalf in his underage years, and it was at the Lions in 2004 that his then coach Eugene Eloff converted him into a centre. Eloff told Habana to go away and study the best, Brian O'Driscoll.

He played 18 matches there that season, and scored 17 tries, before White and the Bulls reconverted him into a winger.

Bearing in mind South Africa score a higher percentage of their tries than most off turnovers, opposition kicks and especially interceptions, O'Sullivan spoke yesterday of the premium on accuracy in their use of the ball.

It will be up to O'Gara to see when the Boks' debutant and out-of-position wingers - Jaco Pretorius and Francois Steyn - are lying deep, and launch the backs, or when the space is there to put the ball in behind them.

Presuming they achieve at least parity up front, then in addition to O'Gara's hands on the tiller, Ireland have the cohesion and the gamebreaking quality in Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll to open the Boks up. These two auxiliary flankers, in tandem with David Wallace and Denis Leamy, a converted openside, will give Ireland plenty of pace to, and presence at, the breakdown.

Coupled with the experience on the bench, Ireland ought also to have the know-how and cohesion to come through if it's a tight endgame.

It may not always be pretty. There will be pain, but then again, no pain, no gain.

Overall head-to-head: Played 17, Ireland 2 wins, 1 draw; South Africa 14 wins.

Last five meetings: 2004 - Ireland 17 South Africa 12 (Dublin); South Africa 26 Ireland 17 (Cape Town); South Africa 31 Ireland 17 (Bloemfontein). 2000 - Ireland 18 South Africa 28 (Dublin). 1998 - Ireland 13 South Africa 27 (Dublin).

Betting (Paddy Powers): 4/9 Ireland; 22/1 draw; 13/8 South Africa. Handicap odds (= South Africa +6pts) 10/11 Ireland, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 South Africa.

Forecast: Ireland to win.

Rugby: pages 2, 3 and 4