Ireland's preparations for the autumn Rugby internationals were dealt a double yesterday when captain Brian O'Driscoll and hooker Rory Best were both ruled out of the series.
O'Driscoll must undergo surgery on an injured ankle and Best is out with sprained neck ligaments.
Ireland face South Africa, Fiji and Argentina in the autumn internationals, and the absence of the inspirational O'Driscoll is
likely to have a serious impact on their ambitions.
With O'Driscoll out, the captaincy is likely to be handed to Lions skipper Paul O'Connell.
Conversely, the Springboks gather in Cape Town today knowing they will leave on their tour of Ireland, Scotland and England with a fully fit squad.
The injury concerns over hooker Adriaan Strauss and flank Francois Louw have dissipated after both were given the all-clear by their medical teams to continue and tour with the Boks.
The Boks begin their preparations for the tour in Cape Town - still buzzing with Currie Cup fever - and leave for the Northern Hemisphere on Saturday evening.
They play Ireland in Dublin on November 10, Scotland at Murrayfield on November 17 and England at Twickenham on November 24
