Close tussle: SA edge the Irish
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South Africa clawed their way back from nine points down to beat Ireland 16-12 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday.
In a tale of two halves, Ireland looked on course for a famous win after leading their visitors 12-3 at half-time.
The pressure was on for South Africa, but when it mattered, they delivered.
The Boks clicked into a higher gear after the break, scoring thirteen unanswered points to deny the Irish and open their end-of-year tour with a hard-fought win.
The result doesn't make pretty reading for Ireland coach Declan Kidney and his troops - since the World Cup, they've played nine games and have won just two of them. It also condemned Ireland to a fifth successive Test defeat, which is their worst losing run for 14 years as they failed to claim redemption for a painful 60-0 drubbing by New Zealand in June.
This was a Test match for the taking though for the Irish, who simply fell off the pace in the second half. There were opportunities for the hosts to shut South Africa out in the first forty, but those were squandered... leaving Ireland fans thinking what could have been.
Ultimately, South Africa hung on for a well deserved win grinded out with a solid forwards display.
Missing a whole host of players through injury, the Irish were expected to struggle against the Boks. It was anything but the case as for large parts Ireland dominated, whilst South Africa paid for their frequent ill-discipline.
Ireland took advantage of every entry into South Africa's half as fly-half Jonathan Sexton punished the visitors from the tee - nailing three penalties in the opening quarter to give his side a handy lead.
Sexton's opposite number Pat Lambie managed to put the Boks on the board with a penalty of his own from bang in front but missed another attempt from further out - proving just how much South Africa are missing the injured Frans Steyn's boot.
And when Sexton wasn't raising the flags with his sucessful kicks at goal, Ireland were full of running and passing the ball as if it were a hot potato - giving their visitors plenty of tackle practice.
Sexton's fourth penalty on the half-hour mark opened up a nine-point (12-3) lead for the Irish, and the Boks looked rattled. It then went from bad to worse for South Africa from the restart after wing JP Pietersen was sin-binned for an early hit on flank Chris Henry - leaving the visitors down to 14 men.
It certainly wasn't what the Boks needed, but breathed a sigh of relief a few minutes later when Sexton pushed his fifth penalty shot wide. The visitors, who did well not to concede any points with a man short, had a rare chance to close the gap on the stroke of half-time only for Ruan Pienaar to fail from far out with his first attempt.
The visitors made a better start to the second half though and when number eight Jamie Heaslip was given his marching orders, South Africa hit back with a try to Pienaar when the scrum-half went over from close range.
Lambie added the extras, and all of a sudden the tourists were right back in it (12-10).
The Springboks then hit the front for the first time in the match when Lambie slotted over his second penalty that silenced the crowd yet again (12-13). South Africa's one-point lead then turned into four after that man Lambie once again found his target which proved to be the final nail in Ireland's coffin.
Man of the match: Ireland's back-row made their presence felt but lock Mike McCarthy was the pick of the forwards while in the backs, Jonathan Sexton was near-flawless from the tee. For South Africa, Pat Lambie had a mixed performance but one that certainly won't cost him his place and Ruan Pienaar proved to be a thorn in Ireland's side all night. But we've gone for hooker Adriaan Strauss, who bulldozed his way through one Irish defender after another and threw his darts well at line-out time.
Moment of the match: Whilst JP Pietersen was also sin-binned, Jamie Heaslip's yellow card certainly changed the course of the match as South Africa claimed seven points in the Ireland skipper's absence.
Villain of the match: Pietersen's brain implosion that saw the Bok speedster smash into Chris Henry without the ball sparked a massive brawl, with plenty of pushing and shoving to get the blood boiling. But the Boks ended second best, after JP was given his marching orders.
The scorers:
For Ireland:
Pens: Sexton 4
For South Africa:
Try: Pienaar
Con: Lambie
Pens: Lambie 3
Ireland: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip (c), 7 Chris Henry, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Iain Henderson, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ronan O'Gara, 23 Fergus McFadden.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Pat Cilliers, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Juan de Jongh, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
By Dave Morris
Comments
ferdie says...
well since no one responded to my question about Taranaki man Michael Bent, I'll have to rely on news media.
Irish Times: Bent's cameo proves he's made of the tight stuff.
Irish Examiner: Bent right at home in scrum
BBC Sport may be going to quickly though, mentioning him in respect of the Lions tour next year. Too early for that, just 4 scrums for Ireland.
A work in progress, best of luck to him.
Posted 03:13 13th November 2012
damo says...
Curates egg you are a clown Darcy made minus 5 line breaks you dope. Did u see the game 12 13for Sa are average but they bossed the midfield. Dont ever say darcy made a line break as he didnt. Heaslip carried the ball twice wowwww what a captain. As long as he didnt get hurt i suppose. Sexton at 12 Rog at 10 for the Argies please Dekkie u rubbish manager
Posted 22:39 12th November 2012
new_j4a says...
@philipjfry, on the Barnes question, we need refs to be fair and accurate. That is the minimum and Barnes met those criteria, but after those basic requirements there is something else that is harder to define and even harder to judge. After those 2 are met, there is an element of reffing that is a little like the conductor of an orchestra...he needs to allow the game to flow and for the teams to be able to exhibit their genius....now i am starting to sound like I've had too much Klifdrift brandy....but there is something akin to an "art" of reffing that has to do with judgments of "materiality" of the offense and evenhandedly allowing the game to continue, ignoring minor infringements that do not impact the game...(I am NOT saying that you ignore a knock on or forward pass...some things are absolute). Barnes is a good ref. I'd rather watch rugby when there is a great ref in charge....BTW I thought some of the non "Anglo Saxon" refs were excellent on the weekend. And as a last thought, Barnes need to adapt his tone. He should spend a day tracking Mark Lawrence...firm but not prissy or pedantic. Maybe Barnes' problem is that he just a prick in real life and it shows on the big stage? Good on the laws though, and fair enough.
Posted 18:51 12th November 2012
philipjfry says...
Just finished watching the match again (this time sans brandy-and-coke goggles) and there are a few positives for the Boks: JDV took the ball up well on occasion following flat passes from line-outs, Strauss managed to cross the advantage line for a change and did so with a bit more prowess and crucially, they made their one-man advantage count which they couldn't manage in Soweto.
On the other hand they conceded possession twice in Ireland's 22 and struggled to retain their own ball at the breakdown. Vermeulen and Alberts's natural games are too similar and personally I think they virtually cancel each other out.
And I take back what I said about Barnes, he was good. Must have been the ale talking. Why do Boere insist on watching rugby drunk, eh?
Posted 14:16 12th November 2012
philipjfry says...
@new_j4a: Perhaps describing him as lacking is hyperbole, but his interpretation of 'daylight' between the tackler and the ball needs clarifying. The tackle area is so contentious and the sport needs referees to be perfectly clear on those areas that can be refereed without interpretation. Do you agree?
Posted 11:26 12th November 2012
curates_egg says...
The midfield was soft in defence but that was always going to be the case. For the D'Arcy knockers, I would be interested to see who made the most line breaks/yards in the backs (if it wasn't D'Arcy he had to be close).
The reality is though that he is the starting 12 at Leinster (keeping McFadden out), Wallace is at Ulster (and nobody wants him back) and Laulala-Earls is the preferred combination at Munster (and Downey has been revealed as being truly average this year). I would be all for giving McFadden and Marshall a shot...but if they don't even start for their provinces, it is a hard case to make.
From what Dexies is saying, Deccie will play an experimental side against Fiji - with PMarshall, Jackson, LMarshall and Cave all set to start. That would be worth watching - Paul Marshall certainly looks like a future international with a long career...whatever about the others.
Posted 09:04 12th November 2012
damo says...
@bigb6969 says...
Are you nuts Darcy was awful as usual he is not a otp club player any more not to mind International !!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Sack Kidney and get a coach who plays talented young players, Marshall should have started at 9, Gilroy/Cave/Mcsharry any of these would cause far more trouble for the bok defence than tiny Gordon and Earls who did nothing. Earls made soem half breaks on the wing but in 13 he couldn't get the ball or tackle or pass the ball, his inability to pass the ball is bad for an international player!!!!
Heaslip has been poor for years now needs to be told what to do by top coaches not dopey dekkie!!!
Get a life IRFU Sack the coach and bring in a talented coach with the ability to orchistrate a game plan, SA were awful 1st half and average second half and still bet what Dekkie put in front of them!!!!!
Henry played very well as did Healy and Zebo, Bowe has to play 13 cos what we had there yesterday was like a small child running round
Posted 23:09 11th November 2012
boksmashoffice says...
The AB's were able to give game time to 2 new caps today. How many new caps were blood by the Boks? We are going to end up with players playing who just get chucked into the deep end of a test match. We are just not developing guys, This is the point of tours, HM does not know who his core guys are and that has to be decided very soon. Jannie looked tired, CJ looked rusty,Brits did not get on because Strauss played a full 80. That will not be good for him down the line. We have soo many good players that are just not getting a chance and these guys will go abroad for the pension money. Lambie needs to be told by Hm that he is the man for the tour. Why steyn was on the bench is beyond me. Its soo frustrating being a bok fan. Hm should have followed Jake White, 2011 - 2015 should have been Erasmus IMO. I really hope we can step up on saturday. We cannot make excuses that guys r injured. It is what it is. Every team has injuries, WEe have soo many quality players that are not getting a look in. Just not good enough.
Posted 22:11 11th November 2012
deprop says...
Disappointing result. Murray is not an international class scrummie and as the pivot he creates little or no continuity. His decision making is awful and he has had too many chances to 'get experience' as Kidney puts it. Encouraging up front for the most part. Despite the loss, I think we'll beat Argentina (as long as Murray is not playing).
Posted 17:30 11th November 2012
black47 says...
Sexton still can't run an irish backline properly. The wrap around pass is becoming so predicable and easy to defend against. The bacline had no cutting edge. When was the last time Darcy made a break. The only time Bowe got the ball was when he came infield to get it. Zedo did ok. Backrow including Heaslip were blown out of it by Boks in second half. Ireland have a complete lack of a discerable game plan and will only get worse
Posted 16:46 11th November 2012
carpelone says...
On a side note, how bad was Barnes? You could see that he was on to teach the Boks one lesson or two.
Heaslip went deservedly to the bin for having deliberately collapsed a maul near the try line, the same offence which went unnoticed from Read. Why?
Posted 16:26 11th November 2012
carpelone says...
First of all, credit to Ireland for putting in a gutsy performance. Some prospects are there (Zebo, McCarthy, Henry). What about switching position between Earls and Bowe? Ireland to to find a tighthead prop, the sooner the better. Well done, given the amount of injuries which plagued the Irish side.
Having said that, what a dull and uninspiring performance from the Boks. They looked like they were paying us (the Boks fans) a favour in the first half.
Get the midfield right, it is not sorted yet. Pienaar is too slow, I nearly fell asleep in the first half, Lambie average but needs quicker balls, Alberts average, Kirchner his usual self. HM, you need to sort out things and be quick.
Posted 16:23 11th November 2012
Wallaroo says...
Great game for the sleep deprived. Anyway makes me feel a bit better about Aussies performance against a far more superior team to Ireland. The Boks are my 2nd team, so now I support 2 boring and apathetic teams on top of being an accountant - wow life couldn't be more exciting.
Posted 12:44 11th November 2012
Dougie says...
bigb6969, Ireland isn't in the UK.
Posted 12:22 11th November 2012
curates_egg says...
Positives: Zebo did ok at 15, Bent looks the real deal, Henry (an openside finally selected at openside for Ireland) did well, Henderson got capped, Strauss got capped (and did well).
Negatives: Murray, Murray, Murray. Shocking box kicking, takes an age at the breakdown (when Ireland actually had go forward ball in the first half) - stops, takes the ball, takes a step, sets his hands, then passes - often above the player. Reddan - while not the future - came on with no go forward ball, but still managed to pass the ball straight from the breakdown to his man.
Marshall has to be given a shot in the XV match next week.
What on earth was ROG doing on the pitch? His kicking away of the ball at the end said it all. Great servant but time to call it a day.
Posted 10:53 11th November 2012
new_j4a says...
@philipjfry who says "Barnes was seriously lacking, there I've said it." I disagree. If anything, we had a bit too much of Barnes as usual. He was absolutely fair, but very pedantic. He seems to think that quality reffing consists of penalizing every single little contravention of the Law to the fullest extent of the Law. I wish that the IRB would make him aware of "materiality." He has the potential to be a great ref....he just needs to lighten up. And by the way, he is technically correct to YC JPP, but most refs would not have done so...it was VERY close to being simultaneous.
Posted 10:35 11th November 2012
new_j4a says...
bigb6969, you do know that Dublin isn't in the UK, don't you?
Posted 10:24 11th November 2012
connaughtabu says...
Went to match - enjoyed atmosphere more than the rugby which was pretty mediocre. Gallant Ireland worked hard and deserved the lead at halftime: 15-3 might have been enough, but alas!
Irish lineout was a bit wobbly at times, but in the end the boys sorted it out. Without the Beast the Bok scrum was no threat and Healy/Ross were comfortable as were replacements Kilcoyne/Bent! Individually the Irish forwards played well, collectively the Bok pack marshalled by Pienaar were just too strong in the end.
The Irish backs all played manfully, tackled hard and were happy to run with ball in hand. I thought Reddon's pass was slicker than Murray's but it is easier to come on and shine. I was impressed with Zebo's commitment, he caught the ball well and ran with purpose. Not sure he can pass the ball with any skill - needs to work on it. One thing for sure, he is not a fullback yet, he needs to learn the positional aspect of that role.
In general terms the backs with little penetration, so the SA players remain relaxed when Ireland went through the phases. God, if we only had Mike Gibson of old or Brian O'Driscoll at his youthful speedy best, to carve through the opposition defences!
Of course, Irish rugby is entering an unprecedented low phase. We have lost 7/9 game and have probably slipped to 9th in world. If we cannot beat Argentina in 2 weeks, our fate will be firmly sealed: the third-level ranking (9-12) will mean that group selection for the next RWC will make getting into the 1/4 final difficult indeed.
Astonished how the crowd at Irish games has changed. Fans in my section of the ground seemed more interested in partying than actually watching the match - why pay ¿65 for a ticket? We actually had a Mexican wave during a Lambie's kick at goal. Obviously not many Munster fans in the crowd!
Roll on Sat week and another famous Irish victory against Argentina!!
:-))
Posted 09:51 11th November 2012
DaveJ says...
Bigb6969 - the Aviva stadium isn't in the UK you cretin.
Posted 09:48 11th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Ireland should have won. Looked a better team in black. Nice of the Irish fans to wear green to support the Boks.
Posted 09:31 11th November 2012