Springbok coach Peter de Villiers says Ireland are a tougher prospect than the British and Irish Lions were earlier in 2009 when the teams locked horns in a three-match series in South Africa.

The Boks recorded an historic 2-1 series win over the best of Britain and Ireland, however, the Bok coach is wary of the Irish who are currently on an unbeaten streak of 10 games - extending back to November 2008.

De Villiers said the fact the Irish players knew each other so well, makes them far more formidable than the Lions - who were made up of players from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.

"We all know that the Lions who were in South Africa were basically an Irish team. They produced the bulk of the squad but were wearing the Lions jersey instead of the Ireland jersey," said De Villiers.

"They're a bloody good side and will be better than the Lions were because they've played together so much more. With the Lions one has to build a team from scratch."

"Ireland have shown they're a very good side; they've been rewarded with the Grand Slam and the Six Nations trophy so they're on a roll.

A number of South African players are still in a race against time to prove their fitness ahead of Saturday's Test as the Boks aim to record back-to-back tour wins to finish the successful 2009 season on a high note.

During this tour the Boks' scrum has come under a lot of scrutiny but when skipper John Smit moved back to hooker during the latter part of the Italy Test, with the experienced BJ Botha coming on, it did very well.

However, De Villiers believes that the perception that Bok scrum is weak, is not true.

"We pass judgment too easily, because there is simply not one test where you push back the guys in every scrum.

"Our pack gained a lot of self-confidence out of that one scrum in the second half [against Italy] when we absolutely crushed them, [Martin] Castrogiovanni included."

The Irish media has dubbed the Croke Park test as the clash between the "best of the south" against the "best of the north" but De Villiers is preparing for the game like any other Test match.

"We are definitely not seeing this as a clash between the champions of the Six Nations and the champions of the Tri-Nations. This is nothing more than any other test we have had to play this year.

"The Springboks are role models in South Africa and winning on the rugby field gives the country hope and makes the people optimistic. This is exactly what we are aiming to achieve again on Saturday. This remains our goal in every test, regardless of the opposition."