The way Ireland attempts to overcome South Africa’s rush defense in their matchup at the top of Pool B on Saturday is an intriguing facet of the game. Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki, who start together for the third week in a row, are two important players in that regard.

Ringrose may lean on his experience playing against the Springboks in Dublin in November, when he assisted rookie Jimmy O’Brien through a true baptism of fire by filling in at both center positions due to Stuart McCloskey’s first-half injury.

Aki and Robbie Henshaw were suspended and injured respectively for that 19-16 win

over the ‘Boks, but both are set to be involved this weekend in Paris, with Aki winning his 50th Ireland cap from the start and his former Connacht team-mate selected on the bench.

As a combination, Ringrose and Aki have proven to be a formidable duo at international level. Ireland have won 18 of the 22 Tests that the pair have started together in midfield.

With four tries and a total of five try involvements, Aki is the Rugby World Cup’s joint-leading try scorer currently. Ringrose has also impressed in attack with five try assists and the same amount of try involvements.

Beating a path to the try-line will be much more difficult against South Africa, who pride themselves on their physicality and their smothering defence. Notably, they have prevented the opposition from scoring a try against them in the first half of their last six matches.