[Here's*freE TV]** Ireland v Springboks LIVE STreams ON TV Channel 6 July 2024

How to watch South Africa v Ireland: Live stream the first test from Pretoria

How to watch South Africa vs Ireland: live stream 2024 rugby union 1st Test from anywhere, team news

Watch South Africa vs Ireland live stream

South Africa vs Ireland live streams are generally found on paid services around the world, including Sky in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, Stan Sport in Australia and FloRugby in the US. But it's also being shown for free in many countries thanks to the NZR+ streaming service and on delay in South Africa on SABC. Not in your home country this weekend? You can use a VPN to unblock your usual South Africa vs Ireland live stream from anywhere. For full details on all South Africa vs Ireland live streams and TV channels, keep scrolling.

Date: Saturday, July 6

Time: 4pm BST / 5pm SAST / 11am ET / 8am PT / 1am AEST (Sun)

Free live streams: NZR+ (selected regions) | SABC (SA, on delay)

For many it’s the World Cup Final that should have been, and this guide explains how to watch a Springboks vs Ireland live stream wherever you are on planet Earth.

Rugby lovers in the UK or Ireland can follow the match on Sky Sports, while fans in South Africa can watch live on SuperSport. There are also viewing options in the US, Australia and New Zealand, as well as numerous other countries where the match is available FOR FREE on New Zealand Rugby’s NZR+ service. Scroll down to find out more. If you’re travelling overseas when the match kicks off on Saturday 6 July, you can use a VPN to watch a South Africa v Ireland live stream from abroad.

The two sides have had differing fortunes since Ireland claimed victory in the pool stages of the World Cup. Andy Farrell’s men were cruelly eliminated by the All Blacks in the quarter-finals, while the Springboks went on to lift a second consecutive Webb Ellis Cup. A victory in South Africa won’t ease the Irish pain, but it would certainly lay down a marker as they get used to life after Johnny Sexton.

The match kicks off at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria at 4.00pm BST / 5.00pm SAST. This guide contains all the essential info to help you watch a Springboks v Ireland live stream wherever you are – including details of how to use a VPN to tune in if you’re away from home.

Where to watch South Africa vs. Ireland live stream, TV channel, lineups, prediction for international rugby match

South Africa play their second international rugby match of 2024 having won their second consecutive Rugby World Cup title last autumn in France, and first up the Springboks face the nation they dethroned as the world's number one side last year — back-to-back Six Nations title winners Ireland.

The Boks began their 2024 campaign in some style against Wales, on neutral ground at Twickenham Stadium in London. Rassie Erasmus's new-look side were dominant from the outset, scoring five tries in a 41-13 thumping which showed that despite a new year, it's the same old South Africa who Ireland will be facing at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria.

Ireland, however, come into this tour off the back of two Six Nations titles in two years, only missing out on successive Grand Slams thanks to a narrow 23-22 loss to England in round four this year. To add to that, Andy Farrell's side have won their last three games in a row against the Springboks, albeit none of which came on South African soil.

The visitors will certainly be hoping to change that in the first of this two-match Test series, and the reduction from the usual three games means this weekend's first Test is absolutely crucial to deciding the overall outcome. Win, and Ireland need only a draw to claim their first-ever series win in South Africa, but a defeat leaves them staring down the barrel of another disappointing tour.

Ahead of this weekend's match between the two top-ranked sides in world rugby right now, The Sporting News has all the TV and streaming details for you to follow the action from Pretoria as these top-class teams clash in differing shades of green.

South Africa vs. Ireland date, kick off time

South Africa host Ireland at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa in the first Test of Ireland's two-match 2024 Tour on Saturday, July 6. The game kicks off at 5:00 p.m. local time (SAST).

South Africa vs. Ireland lineups, team news

If you thought Rassie Erasmus was going to be ushering in a brand-new era of Springboks after back-to-back World Cup wins, think again — the entire South African starting XV made an appearance in last autumn's 12-11 victory over New Zealand. After Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu made his debut against Wales, he joins Gerhard Steenkamp and Salmaan Moerat on the bench as the only three players who didn't feature in last year's World Cup.

South Africa starting XV: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arenas, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kwagga Smith.

South Africa replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenkamp, Vincent Koch, Salmaan Moerat, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Grant Williams, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Andy Farrell also names a side packed with title-winning experience in Ireland's first match since donning the Six Nations crown once more, with only two changes made to the side which started their 17-13 tournament-clinching win over Australia. Both come in the backs, with Craig Casey replacing Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half and debutant Jamie Osborne coming in at fullback.

Ireland starting XV: Jamie Osborne, Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Ireland replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Garry Ringrose.

South Africa vs. Ireland prediction

These two sides have set all the standards at the top level of international rugby in the past few years, and as such choosing a winger between them is far from easy! Ireland have the advantage of having already played five games so far this year - and winning four on their way to a Six Nations title - but South Africa's first hit-out of 2024 didn't show any rustiness whatsoever.

Given the Springboks last faced Ireland at the Rugby World Cup, losing 13-8 in a Pool B classic, you might think the form lies with Andy Farrell's side, but given South Africa have won every game they've played since, lifting the Rugby World Cup in the process, we think they'll just edge what's set to be another titanic encounter in Pretoria.

Prediction: South Africa to win by less than 10 points.