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Beast recalls 2014 loss to Ireland

Cape Town - The last time the Springboks met Ireland they went down 29-15 in Dublin. 

That was back in November 2014, and although the Springboks dominated at the set piece they could not convert that pressure into points. 

Captain Jean de Villiers turned down numerous kickable penalties that day, opting instead to set up attacking lineouts. 

It was a decision that would ultimately cost the Boks as Irish flyhalf Johnny Sexton slotted six from six on his way to a 16-point haul that included four penalties. 

Tendai Mtawarira, the most experienced memeber of the current Springbok squad, remembers that day well. 

He doesn't think that result will count for anything when the sides meet in Cape Town on June 11, but he does remember how shrewd the Irish were. 

"What’s in the past is in the past. It’s a new era now," 'Beast' said.

"The Irish are very clever rugby players. From that Test I remember them pulling away from the mauls and coming and tackling the guy at the back who was holding the ball … really combatting us at what we were good at.

"But everything is at a new stage now and we can’t really go in with preconceived ideas."

Mtawarira is one of seven Boks in the current squad who were a part of that matchday 23. 

He started alongside Willie le Roux, Jan Serfontein, Duane Vermeulen and Eben Etzebeth while Pat Lambie and JP Pietersen were on the bench. 

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