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
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.
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.
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.
Richard Hind
Guest
Quite correct there Mark, they don't have to qualify for 2019, but 2023 they just might have to. That's probably why SARU will be desperate to have the WC2023 in SA, so as to qualify automatically. I'm sure the ZANC will be overjoyed when the Boks reach the pathetic level of Bafana.
Buddy71
Guest
Seriously, sore grapes come to mind. Barbaric Irish. Do you expect rugby to be all hugs and kisses. Get real its a tough game, with split seconds between a good or bad tackle ie standers. He has never been carded before. Not malicious just late yellow at most. Henshaw high tackle soft. What about high tackle on Murray just before he scored. What is the difference(none). What about obstruction of Irish 12 in run in for sa try to create space for the try. Step with your excuses and tHank God ire had men in the bin otherwise it would have been a cricket score. Also they threw u an intercept as well easy points. I suggest you go back to watching a non contact sport like cricket.
superba
Guest
Chinmay Well maybe a new jersey needs to become the Bok jumper. Saw it on the internet once .The one half is the SA soccer jersey - Bafana Bafana .The other half the Bokke jumper .Skilfully stitched down the middle you have a half yellow, half green jumper with the team name emblazoned across the chest . Bafokke . Just about sums it up..
superba
Guest
what a miserable contribution P2R2 .Apartheid finished 1994 .22 years ago .
superba
Guest
One could call it the Boks nadir .Sounds better.
superba
Guest
Trying to charge it down yes maybe so .Would have been ok if he jumped facing Lambie throughout that contest , but he went up in a twisted motion to present his rump to Lambie so as to apply the contact. Red card in my books .
USrugger
Guest
I fear there is no 'false bottom' here... It is a bottomless mire... methinks the Boks are broken not to truly rise again... Oh, there will be flashes...but like the SAfrican currency...the trajectory is pronounced...& in a very specific direction...
USrugger
Guest
As I've said many a time before: The Boks = the New Frogs! On any given day, anywhere, anyone can beat them. And ALL teams now know that. Gone is their aura. By the same token, they will come back & win. That's what they do. They have no real pride, only wounded anger. The Paddies WILL lose in the next test...lose badly. That's the way of the new Boks. It was a beautiful game...HIGHEST compliments to the Paddies playing with 14! ...& the ref was fine. A few mistakes here & there, but then that's par for the course in any game... By now Biltong is suicidal...or has chosen to become an honorary Pom!
hopalong
Guest
Great post.
Harry Jones
Expert
I do. I did. See below. After congratulating Ireland, I was turning to player rating. In my book, if Toetie loses in Joburg, he needs to be fired.
Charl
Guest
Hm. Now how to understand this. South Africans deserve to have their first transformed qouta team lose because of apartheid? Who would benefit from this, R2D2? The blacks or the whites? And who are being punished? Because, you might not quite get this, but for 400 years a small bunch of white settlers have very successfully built a nation in South Africa. And prospered. And were very successful in most of what they attempted. And would not in the least be affected negatively by the rapid decline of the country under black rule, because most of them have the means and the ability to move somewhere else, and prosper there too. So actually, only one side is harmed by the decline of Africa . And it's not who you might like it to be. And, just like the rest of Africa, the decline is rapid, and deadly. And then its ripe for the picking. Boko Haram can't wait. And it's all the fault of apartheid. So, you can gloat, but a win against the Springbokke and Proteas will never again be a real win, because it will never again be a win against the best that South Africa have to offer. But please feel free to enjoy.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
yep brain explosion by Connor Murray... all they needed to do was hold the ball for one more phase then boot the friggin' think out..
Derm
Roar Guru
Ireland have never won against NZ - full stop. That's the remaining monkey. Two chances this November, T-man. I'm going to Chicago for the Soldier's Field games with US v NZ Maori and NZ v Ireland - should be great craic. And I plan to be in Lansdowne for the second test.
Derm
Roar Guru
I ended up having one beer, Kia Kaha. One swallow does not make a summer. I expect hearts of murder and heads of ice next week from the opposition. But for the first time, the third tests will have some relevance and hopefully the crowds keep coming. Hopefully - all the games were sell-outs in their respective stadia.
Derm
Roar Guru
No point Harry, I suspect he'd get clattered again. Seems to happen to 10s these days. Munster have this guy called Ian Keatley though - he's got a few Ireland caps....
Piet Vorster
Guest
I would have thought that SA deserves better after years of Apartheid.
Mark
Guest
Well that was an embarrassing weekend for SH rugby Only saving grace is the AB's beating a team of 16
Mark
Guest
Do they have to qualify? Surely as semi finalists they are automatic
Mark
Guest
Bloody hell How did that happen How do you lose to Ireland At home - against 14 What an embarrassment Or was Wayne Barnes reffing this one as well...
taylorman
Roar Guru
One thing on the game is I couldn't believe the Irish half kicked the ball back to the Boks in the 79th minute with a six point lead. That allowed the Boks to eventually just miss a chance in the corner with JPP. If they'd lost because of that then geez. Gotta be one of the dumbest things I've seen lately.