Two of rugby’s biggest rivals clash under the Saturday night lights in Dublin
Watch Ireland v South Africa today, as two of the best sides in the world renew one of the fiercest rivalries in rugby.
Ireland have had the upper hand in this fixture in recent years, so South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus will be desperate to secure his first ever win at the Aviva Stadium, on what’s set to be a wet and chilly evening in Dublin.
Rugby World’s in-depth guide brings you all the information on live streams and TV channels so you can watch Ireland v South Africa online or on TV – including a free option if you’re in Ireland. We’ll also explain how you can use a VPN to access your usual streaming services if you’re travelling overseas. You’ll find a match preview, teams and officials at the bottom of the page.
- Read more: For details of other Quilter Nations Series matches, we have a guide to watching the Autumn Internationals around the world.
Ireland v South Africa: Essential information
– Date: Saturday 22 November 2025
– Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
– Kick-off time: 5.40pm GMT (local) / 7.40pm SAST / 12.40pm ET
– FREE STREAMS: RTÉ Player (Ireland)
– Other TV/streaming options: TNT Sports / Discovery+ (UK & Ireland) / SuperSport (South Africa) / Peacock (US)
– Watch from anywhere: Get NordVPN’s Black Friday deal
How to watch Ireland v South Africa for FREE
The last of Ireland’s Quilter Nations Series matches this year is available to watch FOR FREE via national broadcaster RTÉ. An Ireland v Springboks live stream is on the RTÉ Player streaming service, while traditional terrestrial viewers can tune in on RTÉ2.
Coverage starts at 4.30pm IST, ahead of the 5.40pm kick-off.
Irish fans can also watch the match on subscription service TNT Sports through Sky, Now, EE, Virgin Media and Vodafone – check your provider for price details.
Ireland v Springboks live streams in South Africa
SuperSport is showing the penultimate match of the Springboks’ European tour back home in South Africa, with the match getting underway at 7.40pm SAST this evening. The SuperSport platform is available via DStv or streaming.
Going to be away from home this weekend? A VPN can help you watch your usual streaming services, even when you’re overseas. Cast your eyes downwards to find out more.
Watch Ireland v South Africa from anywhere
You don’t need to miss out on your usual Ireland v Springboks live stream today, even if you’re hundreds of miles from home in an entirely different country. With the help of a handy piece of kit called a VPN (or Virtual Private Network), you can avoid the geo-restrictions that can sometimes get in the way of watching your usual TV services when you’re overseas.
VPNs have a varied and useful skillset. As well as improving your security online (great for peace of mind when you’re logging into an unfamiliar network), they also allow you to change your device’s IP address. The result? Your laptop, smartphone or tablet can appear to be back home, meaning you can still watch this eagerly anticipated Aviva Stadium encounter, even when your sitting room is thousands of miles away.
The tech experts at TechRadar and Tom’s Guide reckon that NordVPN currently tops the world rankings, thanks to its top-notch streaming and security features. You also get the peace of mind of a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a great deal this Black Friday…
NordVPN Black Friday deal
– 77% off + 3 months FREE
– Unblocks RTE Player, Peacock, Discovery+
Rugby World readers can take advantage of an amazing NordVPN deal throughout the Autumn Nations Series. In this Black Friday promotion, you’ll get up to 77% off two year plans, plus an extra three months thrown in for free.
Stream Ireland v South Africa in the UK
You can watch an Ireland v South Africa live stream on Discovery+ and TNT Sports in the UK. Coverage on TNT Sports 1 starts at 5.30pm GMT, with the match getting underway at 5.40pm.
A UK subscription to Discovery+ Premium (which is also home to Gallagher PREM rugby, Champions League football and a selection of Premier League matches) will cost you £30.99 per month in the UK. Alternatively, TNT Sports can be added to your Sky, BT, EE or Virgin Media TV package – costs vary by platform, so check with your provider.
Streaming options for Ireland v South Africa around the world
- United States: NBC’s Peacock streaming service has the rights to every Autumn Nations Series match this year. You’ll need to sign up for either the Premium service ($10.99 per month) or Premium Plus ($16.99 per month) to watch the rugby, both services also giving you access to Premier League soccer, and a selection of top movies and TV shows. Kick-off is 12.40pm ET / 9.40am PT today.
- Australia: Rugby fans down under can watch Ireland v South Africa on Stan Sport, which costs $20 a month on top of a base Stan plan ($12 a month). Kick-off is a highly antisocial 4.40am AEDT on Sunday morning.
- New Zealand: Kiwi rugby fans need to head to Sky Sport NZ to watch Ireland v South Africa. Subscriptions to Sky Sport Now are available from $54.99 per month, but day passes are available for $29.99. This game kicks off at 6.40am NZDT on Sunday morning.
Ireland v South Africa preview
This has to be the weekend’s blockbuster attraction, the double world champions taking on the team that has arguably been their fiercest rival over the last decade. Ireland have won four of the last five encounters – including the 2023 World Cup pool match – and Springboks boss head coach Rassie Erasmus is yet to taste victory in Dublin.
With several commentators suggesting the Irish are a side in decline, this would be a good place to prove them wrong. A defeat to the All Blacks followed by wins over Australia and Japan is effectively par for Andy Farrell’s men, so they’ll be eager to end their year on a high. The head coach has subsequently welcomed back some of his big guns, with British & Irish Lions Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki paired in the centres, and Andrew Porter and Josh van der Flier returning to the pack.
Erasmus has also gone big after resting several of his star players against Italy last weekend. His starting line-up features just two changes from the side that beat France a fortnight ago, with Ruan Nortje replacing the suspended Lood de Jager in the second row, and Canan Moodie on the wing in place of Kurt-Lee Arendse, who’s returned to South Africa after a concussion. RG Snyman is in line to win his 50th cap from the bench.
Ireland v South Africa line-ups and officials
Ireland
Mack Hansen, Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (captain)
Replacements:
Rónan Kelleher, Paddy McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Cian Prendergast, Jack Conan, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Tom Farrell
South Africa
Damian Willemse, Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach; Boan Venter, Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Ruan Nortje, Siya Kolisi (captain), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese
Replacements:
Johann Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Wilco Louw, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Andre Esterhuizen, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok
There’s an all-English team of officials for the biggest match of this Quilter Nations Series weekend. Matthew Carley takes charge, assisted by Karl Dickson and Christophe Ridley. Andrew Jackson is the TMO.
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