MARK KEOHANE says the Springboks’ match against England is the most important of the end-of-year tour in the context of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The Boks will face the world’s top-two ranked teams, Ireland and France, followed by matches against Italy and England.

In his Sunday Times column, Keohane writes that while next Saturday’s clash with Ireland in Dublin is the most anticipated rugby showdown of the year, the result won’t matter much in a World Cup context as both teams are in the same pool and wouldn’t meet again until the final.

“What Dublin will show is who has the pool advantage going into the World Cup,” Keohane writes. “The Boks, as happened against the All Blacks in 2019, can lose to Ireland in the pool stage and still win the World Cup.”

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Keohane points out that because the World Cup draw was done three years ago, the current top-four ranked teams – Ireland, France, South Africa and New Zealand – are all in the same half of the draw.

“England, beaten finalists [in 2019], have a cruise to the final, which makes Eddie Jones’ campaign that much easier and it makes his challenge that much more threatening.”

He added: “I believe the Boks are good enough to beat Ireland and have the mentality to get a win in Marseilles, but the Test that will determine the success of the tour will be the visit to Twickenham for an early evening kick-off.

“Beat England and it will be huge for the World Cup preparations.

“Lose, and the doubts will be as big, given the Boks lost 27-26 to a youthful England at Twickenham a year ago.

“England shredded the famed Boks defence in the opening 40, but the Boks led with two minutes to play.

“Ideally, the Boks win all four Tests against Ireland, France, Italy and England, but a poll on SA Rugby magazine showed that just 35% of supporters believe this will be possible.

“Tour success for me will be they end on a high in defeating England.”

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