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Springboks vs Ireland: Ireland stun South Africa for record win

11th June, 2016
Kickoff: 1:00am (AEST), 5:00pm local
Venue: Newlands Rugby Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
TV: Live FoxSports 2 from 12:50am (AEST)
Betting: South Africa $1.13, draw $34, Ireland $6.05
The Springboks are conceding too many historic losses. (David Davies/PA Wire)
Editor
11th June, 2016
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Match result:

Ireland claimed a significant upset and their first every win over the Springboks in South Africa, winning by six points early on Sunday morning (AEST).

REPORT: 14-MAN IRELAND STUN SPINGBOKS

Final score
South Africa 20
Ireland 26

Match preview:

South Africa will get their international season underway against a depleted Ireland inside Newlands Stadium this morning. Follow all the live highlights and rugby action on The Roar from 1am (AEST).

Having finished a respectable third in the Six Nations tournament earlier in the year, behind England and Wales, the Irish continue to claw their way back to past form.

Sitting at No.2 in the IRB world rankings just last year, Ireland have slipped down as far as 8th in the last nine months, following a disappointing early exit from the 2015 World Cup, and the aforementioned mid table finish in the Six Nations.

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South Africa, under direction of new head coach Allister Coetzee, have recent history against the Irish they’ll be looking to negate.

The Springboks have lost four of the last six against Ireland, having not won at home in 12 years since 2004.

The South Africans will be a bit rusty as a unit coming into this one, having not played an international since the third place playoff against Argentina in last year’s World Cup, eight months ago.

Team News
Despite the gap in Tests though, it’s Ireland who have been the most affected in their lineup.

The biggest change for the men in green is the absence of star fly half Johnny Sexton, a shoulder injury to the 30-year old opening the door for Belfast-born Paddy Jackson at No.10.

Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, Cian Healy, Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe and Simon Zebo all add to the ‘missing’ list for the Irish, as coach Joe Schmidt looks to blood a new line up.

Iain Henderson and Jordi Murphy come back into the side for their first Tests since the World Cup, packing down at second row and openside respectively.

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Luke Marshall breaks his two year drought from the international stage, slotting in at inside centre to push Jared Payne out to fullback for the first time.

For the Springboks, Lions scrum half Faf de Klerk makes his Test rugby debut, one of six players in the side that weren’t apart of the World Cup last year, joining Elton Jantjies, Warren Whiteley, Julian Redelinghuys, Lionel Mapoe and hooker Bongi Mbonambi

Coetzee has also named Adriaan Strauss captain for the first time, becoming the 57th skipper of the Springboks.

Prediction:
This will be a very tough test indeed for the Irishmen, having never won a game in South Africa, as well as a fiery South African outfit opposite them.

The Springboks should get the job done without too much discomfort in front of the home fans.

South Africa to win by 23

Can the Springboks send their 2016 international campaign shooting out of the gates with a big win? Or will Ireland make history with an upset victory in Cape Town? Catch all the live highlights and action from 1:00am (AEST) on The Roar.

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