The Irish may be walking wounded after losing a string of their key players to injury‚ but rest assured they will come at the Springboks with all they have‚ warned Bok and Ulster lock Franco van der Merwe. Injuries have ravaged through the visiting Irish side ahead of the three-test incoming series which begins in Cape Town on Saturday.Flyhalf Johnny Sexton leads a long list of casualties – which include Tommy Bowe‚ Simon Zebo‚ Peter O’Mahony‚ Luke Fitzgerald and brothers Dave and Rob Kearney – who will be missing out on any action on their tour of South Africa. Run down as the Irish team may seem‚ it would be a grave error to underestimate the valiant visitors was the warning Van der Merwe had for the Boks.The 33-year-old‚ who was capped once in a Rugby Championship encounter against the All Blacks in 2013‚ has intimate knowledge of the Irish having been a crucial member of the Ulster side since 2014.“They are a side that has improved a lot. We saw in the November test last year when they beat us what they are capable of. They have also beaten Australia‚ proving that they are very successful‚” Van der Merwe reminded.“Joe Schmidt is a very good and intelligent coach‚ with a very fit squad. The Irish are a proud nation‚ and they put an emphasis on first-phase ball and are good scrummagers.“The side lost a few players. Most recently Sexton’s injury was a massive blow for them because he would have made a big difference.” While expecting an all-round battle when the Boks meet the Irish‚ it is the forwards battle that Van der Merwe foresees as a crucial area of focus‚ particularly the battle of the second rows.“The Irish take pride in their pack of forwards‚” he said. “There are a lot of good locks in Ireland‚ but so do we.“One can look at how Eben (Etzebeth) and Lood (de Jager) played when they faced each other in that last Super Rugby match [between Stormers and Cheetahs] and imagine what they can do together. We have brilliant locks.“Eben is more than capable of standing up against any locks in the world. He is a great enforcer. Lood has matured a lot.” Van der Merwe shared his inside knowledge of the Irish team from his interactions with some of the players in coach Joe Schmidt’s squad.The former Lions lock plays alongside lock Iain Henderson at Ulster‚ while he has battled against the rest of the Irish locks in the Pro12 competition.“Ireland has some great locks of their own‚” said Van der Merwe.“There is an Ultan Dillane‚ who plays for Connacht‚ who is a young‚ massive and very good player. They have more experience in Devin Toner‚ a tall lineout specialist. It will be a great second row battle.” The lock‚ however‚ is confident of a series victory for the Boks.“Ireland will come out with everything they’ve got‚” he said.“But I’m quite confident that the Boks will win the series. Some of the games may be close‚ but the Boks should take it.”Van der Merwe may not be a part of the Bok set up at the moment‚ and may only have last featured in the national team once three years ago‚ but the lock continues to dream of donning the green and gold jersey again.“Playing for the Boks is always at the back of my mind‚” he acknowledged.“For as long as I am still playing‚ I will continue to hope to put the jersey on one more time. The motivation is always there. I miss South Africa‚ I miss playing for the Boks.” - TMG Digital..