Andy Farrell does his best Barra Best (BBC NI's weatherman for those unfamiliar with him) impression with his way of showing us how cold it is in Dublin.
Big mistake starting Pendergast. I don't get it.
Probably the worst defensive player in the URC never mind the Irish or Leinster squads. Will cost Ireland the game today.
Jack Crawley is a class 10, better than Pendergast and can defend.
Joseph, Luton
Joseph has had his say on the Irish 10 debate and has firmly put his eggs in the Jack Crowley basket.
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Farrell bristles at 'loaded' Prendergast questionspublished at 17:32 GMT 22 November 2025
17:32 GMT 22 November 2025
Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)
Image source, Getty Images
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell hit back at "loaded questions" as he defended fly-half Sam Prendergast before today's Test against world champions South Africa.
Prendergast started last week's 46-19 win over Australia after Jack Crowley wore the number 10 jersey against New Zealand and Japan.
While Leinster's Prendergast shone in attack against the Wallabies, the 22-year-old's weakness in the tackle was exposed when Len Ikitau barged past him to score Australia's first try.
Asked if he wanted to see more physicality from Prendergast, Farrell said: "I understand the question and it's a question that obviously keeps popping up, but I think Sam's ability as a fly-half far outweighs a work-on within his game.
"I thought he was tremendous last week, his skillset has been fantastic for all to see and I think everyone needs to look through a little bit of a work-on because everyone's got work-ons and will continue to have work-ons throughout.
"That's up to us as coaches and the rest of the players to keep on working on them."
Pressed if he had spoken to Prendergast about his technique and body position, Farrell responded: "I understand your question again, but they're loaded questions, do you know what I mean?
"Because then it's obvious we have to talk about that, but your question could be asked about any single player throughout.
"Of course, we constantly talk to individuals about all aspects of their play, so to think that we're just focusing on one aspect of one player is not right.
"For example, I spoke to our two leaders yesterday about certain aspects of their game. I'm talking about Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan, world-class players, and they agree with their work-ons, so it's constant throughout for every single member of every single squad in world rugby."
It's all over in Cardiff, and New Zealand maintain seven decades of dominance against Wales with a comfortable seven-try 26-52 victory at the Principality Stadium.
Wings Caleb Clarke and Sevu Reece scored two tries each with full-back Ruben Love, prop Tamaiti Williams and centre Rieko Ioane also crossing, supplemented by 17 points from Damian McKenzie's boot.
Tom Rogers became the first Welshman to score a hat-trick against New Zealand, while fellow wing Louis Rees-Zammit also crossed.
Steve Tandy's side produced a spirited display as they scored the most amount of points against New Zealand in Cardiff but they also conceded 50 points at home for the third time this year.
Wales were made to pay for their indiscipline with yellow cards for Gareth Thomas and Taine Plumtree as the hosts were overwhelmed by the relentless New Zealand attack.
Inspired by dynamic number eight Wallace Sititi, it was a 34th successive victory in this fixture for the All Blacks in a winning sequence that stretches back to 1953.
Springbok grievances won't affect Irish preppublished at 17:24 GMT 22 November 2025
17:24 GMT 22 November 2025
Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)
Image source, Getty Images
Ireland's preparations for the Test against South Africa will not be affected by the world champions' grievances with recent refereeing decisions, says defence coach Simon Easterby.
On Monday, backs coach Mzwandile Stick claimed the Springboks have been treated unfairly in recent games after locks Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert were shown straight red cards against France and Italy.
Mostert will face a World Rugby disciplinary hearing, while South Africa have appealed De Jager's four-match suspension, but Easterby insists Ireland are not overly concerned with matters outside of their camp.
"I think there's been a bit of debate around the yellow card, red cards, 20-minute red cards in all the games across the last three or four weeks," he said.
"We're not immune to that, we understand it's happening, we can only control what we can control. I don't think anyone takes a huge amount of notice as to what's been said outside of your own camp and they'd probably be the same.
"If they've got grievances, that's something they'd take up with World Rugby and it won't affect what we prepare for."
South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick claims the Springboks have been treated unfairly following red-card incidents in their wins over France and Italy.
Lood de Jager was handed a four-game suspension after being sent off for a high tackle on France full-back Thomas Ramos in Paris, while Franco Mostert was given a straight red card for a shoulder-to-head challenge on Italy's Paolo Garbisi in Turin last weekend, but is free to play after his hearing.
"Every week we are losing players and it's sad," Stick told reporters in Dublin before South Africa's Test against Ireland on Saturday.
He added: "I don't want to say things and then end up also being banned like Rassie [Erasmus, head coach] in the past.
"We've never talked bad about other teams. We always try and play in a good spirit, and hopefully things can just be between the four lines. Are we treated fairly? I don't think so."
Mostert red card overturnedpublished at 17:22 GMT 22 November 2025
17:22 GMT 22 November 2025
Ireland v South Africa (17:40 GMT)
Image source, Getty Images
South Africa second row Franco Mostert is free to face Ireland after his permanent red card for a high hit was rescinded.
The 34-year-old was dismissed after 11 minutes of the Springboks' 32-14 win over Italy last weekend, with referee James Doleman judging that there had been a high degree of danger in Mostert's tackle on fly-half Paolo Garbisi and a straight shoulder, with no attempt to "wrap" his arms, meant no mitigation could be applied to the incident.
However, a three-person disciplinary committee determined that, although Mostert had made contact with Garbisi's head, he initially hit lower down.
"[Head contact] was found to be secondary to the initial shoulder contact and made with much lower force and without the requisite level of 'danger' required under World Rugby's Head Contact Process to make the offending reach the red card threshold," the committee wrote after reviewing replays and evidence from Mostert.
That last photo of Jack Conan just brought back horrible memories of trying to do a live text where Ireland's alternate kit was just as close to South Africa as their normal green.
Ireland round off their autumn against world champions South Africa, who Jack Conan says are "deservedly the best in the world".
After winning the Rugby Championship, the Springboks have won all three of their November matches in the northern hemisphere and will look to claim a tour clean sweep in Dublin after wins over Japan at Wembley, France and Italy.
Ireland famously stunned South Africa in the group stages of the 2023 World Cup before the Springboks rallied to win the tournament, and the sides drew a summer series in 2024.
"They are a good team, aren't they?" Conan said.
"You can see what they are doing with the bench and how they apply their forwards.
"They are changing the game and it is great to see. It's innovation, it's interesting and it's getting eyeballs on the game."
The biggest concern for the Springboks has been discipline in their last two matches. Lood de Jager was sent off for a reckless tackle against France, and Franco Mostert was dismissed on Saturday against the Italians.
Despite being a man down for the majority of both matches, Rassie Erasmus' side came through to win both times.
"They are going really well. They were probably disappointed with their red cards over the last few weeks but they are an unbelievably physical side and deservedly the best in the world," Leinster back row Conan added.
"They will be a huge challenge for us and we love a challenge. We love having to be better.
"It's probably never been as enjoyable to play for Ireland as it has been right now."
HansenT Farrell 65', substituted for T Farrell at 65 minutes
Number
14
14, O'Brien
O'BrienCrowley 32', substituted for Crowley at 32 minutes
Number
13
13, Ringrose
Ringrose
Number
12
12, Aki
Aki
Number
11
11, Lowe
Lowe
Number
10
10, S Prendergast
S Prendergast34', Yellow card at 34 minutes
Number
9
9, Gibson-Park
Gibson-ParkCasey 73', substituted for Casey at 73 minutes
Number
1
1, Porter
Porter40', Yellow card at 40 minutesP McCarthy 61', substituted for P McCarthy at 61 minutes
Number
2
2, Sheehan
SheehanKelleher 56', substituted for Kelleher at 56 minutes
Number
3
3, Furlong
FurlongBealham 61', substituted for Bealham at 61 minutes
Number
4
4, Ryan
Ryan20', Red card at 20 minutes
Number
5
5, Beirne
Beirne
Number
6
6, Baird
BairdConan 61', substituted for Conan at 61 minutes
Number
7
7, van der Flier
van der FlierP McCarthy 40', substituted for P McCarthy at 40 minutesvan der Flier 50', substituted for van der Flier at 50 minutesPorter 63', substituted for Porter at 63 minutesvan der Flier 73', substituted for van der Flier at 73 minutes
Number
8
8, Doris
Doris
Substitutes
home team, Ireland
Number
16
16, Kelleher
Kelleher
Number
17
17, P McCarthy
P McCarthy62', Yellow card at 62 minutes
Number
18
18, Bealham
Bealham
Number
19
19, C Prendergast
C Prendergast
Number
20
20, Conan
Conan
Number
21
21, Casey
Casey
Number
22
22, Crowley
Crowley40', Yellow card at 40 minutes
Number
23
23, T Farrell
T Farrell
away team, South Africa
Starting lineup
Number
15
15, Willemse
Willemse
Number
14
14, Moodie
Moodie
Number
13
13, Kriel
Kriel
Number
12
12, de Allende
de Allende
Number
11
11, Kolbe
Kolbe
Number
10
10, Mngomezulu
MngomezuluLibbok 59', substituted for Libbok at 59 minutes
Number
9
9, Reinach
ReinachWilliams 68', substituted for Williams at 68 minutes
Number
1
1, Venter
VenterSteenekamp 40', substituted for Steenekamp at 40 minutes
Number
2
2, Marx
MarxGrobelaar 66', substituted for Grobelaar at 66 minutesMarx 73', substituted for Marx at 73 minutes
Number
3
3, du Toit
du ToitLouw 40', substituted for Louw at 40 minutesdu Toit 73', substituted for du Toit at 73 minutes
Number
4
4, Etzebeth
EtzebethSnyman 50', substituted for Snyman at 50 minutes
Number
5
5, Nortje
Nortje
Number
6
6, Kolisi
KolisiEsterhuizen 59', substituted for Esterhuizen at 59 minutes
Number
7
7, du Toit
du Toit
Number
8
8, Wiese
WieseSmith 53', substituted for Smith at 53 minutes
HansenT Farrell 65', substituted for T Farrell at 65 minutes
Number
14
14, O'Brien
O'BrienCrowley 32', substituted for Crowley at 32 minutes
Number
13
13, Ringrose
Ringrose
Number
12
12, Aki
Aki
Number
11
11, Lowe
Lowe
Number
10
10, S Prendergast
S Prendergast34', Yellow card at 34 minutes
Number
9
9, Gibson-Park
Gibson-ParkCasey 73', substituted for Casey at 73 minutes
Number
1
1, Porter
Porter40', Yellow card at 40 minutesP McCarthy 61', substituted for P McCarthy at 61 minutes
Number
2
2, Sheehan
SheehanKelleher 56', substituted for Kelleher at 56 minutes
Number
3
3, Furlong
FurlongBealham 61', substituted for Bealham at 61 minutes
Number
4
4, Ryan
Ryan20', Red card at 20 minutes
Number
5
5, Beirne
Beirne
Number
6
6, Baird
BairdConan 61', substituted for Conan at 61 minutes
Number
7
7, van der Flier
van der FlierP McCarthy 40', substituted for P McCarthy at 40 minutesvan der Flier 50', substituted for van der Flier at 50 minutesPorter 63', substituted for Porter at 63 minutesvan der Flier 73', substituted for van der Flier at 73 minutes
Number
8
8, Doris
Doris
Substitutes
Number
16
16, Kelleher
Kelleher
Number
17
17, P McCarthy
P McCarthy62', Yellow card at 62 minutes
Number
18
18, Bealham
Bealham
Number
19
19, C Prendergast
C Prendergast
Number
20
20, Conan
Conan
Number
21
21, Casey
Casey
Number
22
22, Crowley
Crowley40', Yellow card at 40 minutes
Number
23
23, T Farrell
T Farrell
away team, South Africa
Starting lineup
Number
15
15, Willemse
Willemse
Number
14
14, Moodie
Moodie
Number
13
13, Kriel
Kriel
Number
12
12, de Allende
de Allende
Number
11
11, Kolbe
Kolbe
Number
10
10, Mngomezulu
MngomezuluLibbok 59', substituted for Libbok at 59 minutes
Number
9
9, Reinach
ReinachWilliams 68', substituted for Williams at 68 minutes
Number
1
1, Venter
VenterSteenekamp 40', substituted for Steenekamp at 40 minutes
Number
2
2, Marx
MarxGrobelaar 66', substituted for Grobelaar at 66 minutesMarx 73', substituted for Marx at 73 minutes
Number
3
3, du Toit
du ToitLouw 40', substituted for Louw at 40 minutesdu Toit 73', substituted for du Toit at 73 minutes
Number
4
4, Etzebeth
EtzebethSnyman 50', substituted for Snyman at 50 minutes
Number
5
5, Nortje
Nortje
Number
6
6, Kolisi
KolisiEsterhuizen 59', substituted for Esterhuizen at 59 minutes
Number
7
7, du Toit
du Toit
Number
8
8, Wiese
WieseSmith 53', substituted for Smith at 53 minutes