South Africa vs Ireland: ‘Andy Farrell’s side already have their backs against the wall’

Now in Durban, and back at sea-level after playing Saturday’s Test in the altitude of Pretoria, Ireland’s first port of call will be to assess the toll of their defeat in the opener.

Already travelling without Hugo Keenan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan and Iain Henderson, the visitors appeared to suffer a raft of injuries in the reverse.

Robbie Henshaw and Dan Sheehan were both replaced at half time, while Craig Casey and Jamie Osborne departed in the second half, the former stretchered off after striking his head on the turf.

In the absence of Gibson-Park, and with Casey now almost certainly out, Connacht scrum-half Caolin Blade figures to be promoted to the match-day squad and add to his previous two caps.

Although Ireland’s squad already felt stretched through absentees, Farrell will take solace from the performance of Garry Ringrose when called upon in the second half, while Ronan Kelleher is certainly an able deputy at hooker should Sheehan miss out.

Against arguably the widest talent pool in the game however, any loss of depth is sure to be keenly felt.