South Africa may have been labelled as "boring" for their systematic approach to the game this year, but they are unlikely suddenly become an "adventurous and expansive" unit when they take to the field against Ireland on Saturday.

It is not so much the fear of the threat posed by the Irish as the conditions the Boks are expected to encounter that will see them opt for a tried-and-trusted approach.

Bok captain John Smit, in his recently released biography Captain in the cauldron, described how his team fell foul of the conditions in their last Test in Dublin - a 15-32 loss to Ireland in 2006. He described how they "walked out into a gale" in their last appearance at the stately Lansdowne Road stadium, and failed to cope with blustering conditions.

The weather predictions for Saturday's showdown with the Grand Slam-winning Six Nations champions, Ireland, are suggesting the Boks may face a Croke Park gale similar to the wind that blew them off the park three years ago.

Heavy rain, a strong wind and very poor visibility - with the temperature rising to a maximum of 5?C (41?F).

Not surprising then to hear the Boks talking of 'keeping it tight'.

They got their first taste of the conditions when they got off the plane in Dublin on Sunday and the wintry conditions haven't let up since.

"Yes, me and Fourie [du Preez] walked together off the plane. We just looked at each other and looked to the forwards; [and said] we are going to have to keep the ball a bit more if the wind is blowing like that," Steyn told a media gathering in Dublin.

While the Boks had a chance to experience the conditions at their training ground, in the confines of St Michael's College, just down the road from their Burlington Hotel base, they have no experience of Croke Park - a Gaelic sports stronghold that has been in use for Rugby Union since 2007, while a new stadium was built on the spot where Lansdowne Road was.

But Steyn feels they will be ready for whatever comes at them on Saturday.

"On Thursday we are going to the venue where we are playing," he told the media gathering, adding: "They are not the easiest conditions to kick in but we can't control it," said Steyn.

Steyn is also happy to have the experience of the greatest scrumhalf playing the game right now on his inside - which is helping in the decision-making process.

"To play with Fourie [du Preez] at the Bulls and the Boks makes it so much easier for me. I know he is going to make the right decision 90 per cent of the time."

Du Preez was equally lavish with his praise of his teammate, Steyn - who showed remarkable calm in slotting a number of match-winning penalties this year, including the series-clinching 50-metre shot in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions back in June.

As was to be expected, the Irish media were keen to get inside the mind of the man that shattered the dreams of their heroes when he calmly slotted the penalty to give the Boks an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

"I was actually quite calm," Steyn said, when asked about the Loftus penalty against the Lions.

"That's why you put in the hard work on the practice field, to get moments like that. Luckily I slotted it over on my home ground. I'm used to that field. As we got that penalty I knew it was in my veins and I could do it.

"Luckily, John [Smit, the Bok skipper] gave the ball to me and not to Frans Steyn ? because of the distance. As soon as we got the penalty I walked up him [Smit]. I was looking forward to the kick."