Irish captain O'Mahony ready for South African first

Ready to win his 107th Test cap against the Springboks on Saturday, Ireland's Peter O'Mahony is preparing for a first in his long career.

The 34-year-old made his international debut in 2012 but has never before played a Test match on South African soil.

The Munster back-rower missed Ireland's 2016 series defeat in the country through injury, while his sole cap for the British and Irish Lions came in New Zealand in 2017.

Indeed, among Andy Farrell's starting side for the first Test in Pretoria, only Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw have played an international in the country for Ireland, while Bundee Aki and Tadhg Beirne also did so for the Lions.

"I was speaking with a few lads last night, there haven't been many of us who have played a Test in South Africa," said O'Mahony.

"If you talk with some of the young fellas, sometimes you might give them a bit of advice on what it's going to be like but there are very few of us who can do that."

Ireland's players are much more familiar with playing in the country than would have previously been the case thanks to the United Rugby Championship [URC].

Irish provinces make at least one trip the southern hemisphere each season thanks to the Sharks, Lions, Stormers and Bulls joining their domestic league in 2021.

O'Mahony, however, says that those fixtures cannot be compared to the Test arena.

"It helps you've been in the stadium before but international rugby is different to URC, there's no point in saying otherwise," he added.

"It's a different animal, a different intensity. You're going to have a different type crowd.

"It's a big occasion for South Africa, coming back here for the first time since winning the World Cup, first Test back here. I think it's going to be an incredible atmosphere for everyone."

Ireland have won the past three meetings between the sides, twice in Dublin and, most recently, in Paris at last year's World Cup.

Despite their pool stage loss at the Stade de France, the Springboks would go on to win that tournament, lifting the Webb Ellis trophy for the second time in succession.

There has been some change for South Africa in the ensuing nine months, most notably in the coaching box.

Former Japan assistant Tony Brown and O'Mahony's old Munster coach Jerry Flannery were victorious in their first game on Rassie Erasmus' ticket against Wales last month.

But O'Mahony is still expecting a Springbok side that will play to their traditional strengths.

"We certainly had a look at what they did against Wales," he said.

"They're only one Test in so it's hard to predict what's coming but I don't think they'll go away from what they're incredibly, incredibly good at.

"They're world champions for a reason and that base for their game isn't going to change.

"I'm sure there'll be some new things and things they'll throw in, curveballs, but that's Test rugby and what you have to adapt to."