Paul O'Connell: 'We present a big physical challenge'

Paul O'Connell says he fully believes Ireland can match South Africa's size and power when the sides meet at the Stade de France tomorrow.

Test rugby’s top-ranked nation clash with the reigning champions on Saturday evening in a blockbuster Rugby World Cup match in Paris.

Ireland go into the pivotal Pool B appointment on a 15-match winning streak, including turning over the All Blacks on enemy territory and a Dublin success over the Springboks in November.

Andy Farrell’s men are viewed as slight underdogs for the Stade de France showdown but forwards coach O’Connell has backed the team to figure out a way to register another statement win.

"It’s going to take a big performance for sure," said the former Ireland captain.

"They obviously present a big physical challenge, I think we present a big physical challenge, and they present a real technical challenge as well.

"They’re a very smart side and one of the things you probably admire most about them is the smarts they can bring along with their physicality.

"It’s a strength of our side as well, so we speak about this Irish team and what this Irish team stands for.

"They’ve got to bring everything they’ve brought to the big occasions they’ve been in in the last few years.

"We’ve had a Test series decider down in New Zealand, we’ve had a Grand Slam decider, we’ve had a tough autumn series against some very tricky opposition and the boys have always found a way and figured it out.

"It’s a real strength of theirs.

"They’re going to have play super well but they’re also going to have to figure things out and it’s something I really enjoy watching them do when they have a challenge in front of them, how they manage to figure it out as a group and they’re going to have to do that at the