South Africa v Ireland Rugby World Cup kick-off time, TV channel and team news

South Africa v Ireland, the most anticipated clash of the 2023 Rugby World Cup so far, is almost here. Saturday's big Rugby World Cup Pool B encounter will take place in Paris.

Ireland, who have been top of the world rankings for 14 months, have won their last 15 Tests, a sequence which has included a series-clinching triumph over the All Blacks, an autumn internationals sweep against Fiji, Australia and South Africa, and this year's Six Nations Grand Slam campaign. But Saturday's meeting with the three-time world champions has been widely touted as the greatest challenge Ireland have faced under Farrell.

South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has reinstated the starting XV which opened their campaign against Scotland, with the exception of injured hooker Malcolm Marx. Ireland boss Andy Farrell has made just one change to the side which beat Tonga last time out, with Jamison Gibson-Park replacing Conor Murray at scrum-half.

What time is South Africa v Ireland kick-off?

South Africa v Ireland kicks off at 8pm UK time/9pm local time on Saturday, September 23, at Stade de France in Paris. The clash of the titans is the most anticipated match-up of the Rugby World Cup so far.

What TV channel is South Africa v Ireland on? What about live streaming?

South Africa v Ireland is being broadcast live on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 7.15pm. Viewers can also live stream coverage via ITVX.

What's the South Africa v Ireland team news?

Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has made 13 changes of personnel and one positional switch from the team which beat Romania 76-0 on Sunday. Hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi is the only player to retain his jersey from that game, while Damian Willemse reverts to full-back with Manie Libbok playing fly-half. Faf de Klerk starts at No. 9, meaning Cobus Reinach has to settle for a place on the bench after his hat-trick against Romania. South Africa have also made a statement of intent, and caused a stir, by becoming the first nation to name seven forwards on the bench for a World Cup match.

As for Ireland, Jamison Gibson-Park replaces Conor Murray at scrum-half in the only change to the starting XV which beat Tonga 59-16 last weekend. Murray takes Craig Casey’s place among the replacements. Eleven of the players who started Ireland’s 19-16 win over South Africa in their last meeting in Dublin 10 months ago are once again included in the run-on team: they are props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, second-rows Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan, back-rowers Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris, fly-half Johnny Sexton, centre Garry Ringrose, winger Mack Hansen – on the left wing rather than the right - and full-back Hugo Keenan.

South Africa: 15. Damian Willemse, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Cheslin Kolbe, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Faf de Klerk, 1. Steven Kitshoff, 2. Mbongeni Mbonambi, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Franco Mostert, 6. Siya Kolisi (capt), 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Ox Nche, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Jean Kleyn, 20. RG Snyman, 21. Marco van Staden, 22. Kwagga Smith, 23. Cobus Reinach.

Ireland: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Mack Hansen, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. James Lowe, 10. Johnny Sexton (capt), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Ronan Kelleher, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Tadhg Beirne, 5. James Ryan, 6. Peter O'Mahony, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris.

Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan, 17. Dave Kilcoyne, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Iain Henderson, 20. Ryan Baird, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Jack Crowley, 23. Robbie Henshaw.