Botha: Ireland will be 'biggest obstacle' for the Springboks

France's opening Rugby World Cup win against New Zealand has heightened the importance of topping Pool B for both Ireland and South Africa, according to BJ Botha and James Downey.

With Pools A and B paired off with each other for the quarter-finals of the tournament, Ireland have known for some time that they're more than likely to face one of France or the All Blacks in the last eight of the competition, should they reach that stage.

Prior to this summer, it was difficult to call which potential quarter-finalist Ireland would prefer to face, however the manner of France's 27-13 victory over New Zealand has made the All Blacks the preferred option for both Ireland and South Africa.

"It's the lesser of two evils to take, New Zealand ahead of France," James Downey said on the RTÉ Rugby World Cup podcast.

"It's not the All Blacks side that we would have known from a couple of years ago, they do not have that invincibility around them, and that's where South Africa and Ireland would say they prefer it, especially with the French at home in front of that crowd.

"They didn't play particularly well but still managed to win. It's a big case for both teams really going for it.

"It's all permutations of whoever won, who we would prefer to take, but I'm sure both teams would be looking to get one over.

"Ireland will certainly prefer to play New Zealand because they hold no fears of them. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge first."

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