Ireland were tactically superior

Editor

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer concede that his team were beaten by a better side in Saturday’s loss to Ireland in Dublin.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer concede that his team were beaten by a better side in Saturday’s loss to Ireland in Dublin.

The Springboks were gutted about losing their tour-opener but heaped praise on their hosts for a great performance in tricky conditions.

Ireland won 29-15 – it was the Springboks’ first defeat to a side from the Northern Hemisphere since they lost to Scotland in November 2010.

The sides scored two tries apiece but the South Africans were made to pay for ill-discipline at crucial stages of the match as Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton slotted four penalty goals and two conversions for a personal haul of 16 points.

Marcell Coetzee scored the Boks’ first try from a rolling maul while JP Pietersen rounded off a good movement late in the match. Handr