The Springboks secured their first win in Dublin over Ireland in thirteen years. A brilliant first half by the Springboks secured a 19-10 lead at the halftime break; however, the second half lost some sparkle as the Springboks were content to defend their 24-13 lead, for a deserved win.
Despite the expected fast start by Ireland, the Springboks sent the ball wide with Damian Willemse scoring the Springboks' first try with a brilliant dive to stay in-field in the corner to edge the Springboks 05-00 in the lead after four minutes of play in the first half.
The Springboks continued to build pressure on the Irish defence using their big forwards to break Ireland’s defensive wall. The Springboks spent twelfe minutes in the Irish red zone, whereafter, it was Cobus Reinach who slipped through the smallest of cracks to score the Springboks' second try. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted the try to extend the Springboks’ lead to 12-00.
Ireland, reduced to thirteen players, replied almost immediately when Dan Sheehan scored Ireland’s first try following a lineout just outside the Springboks' twenty-two. Sam Prendergast converted to cut the Springboks’ lead to 12-07.
Ireland conceded several scrum penalties, which eventually led to a penalty try awarded to the Springboks to lead 19-07 at the halftime break.
Despite trailing 19-07 at the halftime break, Ireland must have been ecstatic to “only” trail by twelfe points at the halftime break, following four cards during the final twenty minutes, reducing them to twelfe players going into the second half.
Sam Prendergast converted a penalty after just three minutes of play in the second half, reducing the Springboks’ lead to 19-10.
A brilliant break by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu off the back of a dominant scrum extended the Springboks' lead to 24-10 after seven minutes of play in the second half.
With the momentum swinging towards Ireland, Sam Prendergast converted a second penalty to cut the Springboks' lead to 24-12 after sixteen minutes of play in the second half.
With time almost up, Ireland attacked with everything they had; however, they could not add to their score. The Springboks deservedly won 24-13.
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Mack Hansen, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 James Ryan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter. Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Cian Prendergast, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Tom Farrell.
Springboks: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.