CJ Stander can't wait for Ireland to test themselves on the world stage against the heavyweights.
Their status as possible World Cup winners heightened by the hammering dished out to Scotland earlier today, Ireland are hungry to make history in the coming weeks.
With first place in Pool A guaranteed bar a seismic shock in the three remaining games against Japan, Russia and Samoa, Ireland are on course to face South Africa in the quarter-finals after the Boks lost to the All Blacks yesterday.
Stander, of course, hails from Springbok country, having come to Ireland when he joined Munster in 2012.
"I’ve played against them a few times now," he pointed out.
"It’s just another game. You have to pitch up and you can’t look too far into those games but if we have to play against them at some stage we need they’re a formidable side, a good side. A lot of physicality, big men.
"I know a lot of them and some of the coaches as well so, look, it’s something that I’m not looking at now.
"For me now, it’s about the next few weeks and the next few games and make sure I get back into the team."
Stander was a very interested spectator in the Boks' loss to the All Blacks, which he watched in the team hotel.
"It was a good game, a physical game," said the no 8, who earned the man of the match award in his first ever World Cup game as he wasn't eligible for Ireland in 2015.
"It just shows what the World Cup is, all the best teams going at each other.
"They’re probably going to see each other again - or we’re going to see some of them. I’m looking forward to it."
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