Ireland v South Africa: Andy Farrell’s side host the Springboks in ‘Sunflower Test’ at Aviva Stadium for both

Regardless of the motivation, this seems like a huge game for both of them.

If that doesn’t quite spell South Africa’s year, with Wales yet to come next week, signing off for another clean sweep in November after Rugby Championship success will be an ominous sign for those hoping to wrest the World Cup from their grasp as the focus begins on Australia 2027.

Ending the wait for a win in Dublin would certainly contribute to a ‘fantastic season’ in Erasmus’ eyes.

“I think we haven’t always played great rugby, there are times when we’ve played terrible rugby,” the head coach said.

“So it would be great if we go into this game and play really well [and] To our standards.

“I think in the last five results, there’s not much to choose between the two teams. So, yeah, you’d love to win this game. We’d like to say, ‘Yes, we’ve had a great season, we beat Ireland in Dublin’ which we haven’t done since I’ve been involved.”

For the home side, the need for victory is arguably more urgent. After losing the Six Nations crown to France in the spring and a low-key summer tour without a large contingent of British and Irish Lions, the autumn has been uneven so far.

After a deserved defeat at the hands of New Zealand in Chicago before an unconvincing win over Japan in Dublin, their best performance to date came against a tired Australia last week.

Now ranked fourth in the world – behind England – the defeat would leave them with three wins and six losses from their past nine matches against the other teams in the top five and reinforce fears that the aging side will fall significantly from their peak in 2023.

Hooker Dan Sheehan described the team’s final match of the year as a “great barometer” of Ireland’s current state, while captain Kellan Dorris added that the perception of the autumn arguably “hinges” on Saturday’s performance.

Farrell is rarely one to engage in black-and-white interpretations of performances and results, but even he described the game as a “real test” of his side’s current form.

“We will learn, but we are trying to prove to ourselves all the time that we are taking steps forward and this will be the real test of where we are,” the head coach said.

“This will certainly focus the mind for the next couple of months before the Six Nations.”

For better or worse, Saturday’s result seems certain to hold for some time to come.