South Africa took a much-needed six-point win over Ireland in a come-from-behind victory early on Sunday morning (AEST), scoring Allister Coetzee’s first win as coach.
REPORT: SPRINGBOKS GET NARROW WIN
Final score
South Africa 32
Ireland 26
South Africa are looking to bounce back from a historic loss this morning, taking on Ireland inside Johannesburg. Follow all the live highlights and action from 1:05am (AEST) on The Roar.
Winning their first ever game on South African soil to open the series, Ireland ground out a beautiful victory over the Springboks with just 14 men, following a CJ Stander red card in the first half.
A frustrated Boks side failed to capitalise on their chances with the lion’s share of possession in field position in their pocket, a failed trait that skipper Adriaan Strauss is well aware of coming into the second Test.
“We need to right the wrong,” Strauss said, “It’s about our own standards. We have the ability to be better and have a much higher expectation of ourselves.”
The South Africans have been hit with the injury stick coming into this one, with coach Allister Coetzee making five changes to his squad, four of them forced.
Lood de Jager and Pat Lambie are the two alterations to the starting 15, being ruled out with calf and concussion issues respectively. They will be replaced by Pieter-Steph du Toit at lock and Elton Jantjies at fly half.
Meanwhile on the bench, Franco Mostert and Ruan Combrink are set to make their international debuts, joining veteran Morne Steyn as inclusions to the match day squad.
For Ireland, coach Joe Schmidt has also made five changes to his side, including three new bloods making their debut, Quinn Roux, Sean Reidy and Tiernan O’Halloran.
Prediction
South Africa have their tails tucked between their legs after the shock loss in the first Test, but you can expect a renewed, more aggressive Boks outfit to take the fight back at the Irish.
In saying that, Ireland have a top notch squad that have proven toughness on the international stage, and confidence that’s riding high.
Ireland have a very real chance at sealing the series here this morning, but it should be the Boks that get the win at home in a close one.
South Africa to win by 9
Can South Africa return serve after the first test? Or will Ireland make history once again with a big win on the road? Follow all the live highlights and action from 1:05am (AEST) on The Roar.
Albert
Guest
I think Allister has to evaluate wisely in absolute detail the standard and quality of play. Reason Certain players are just not on par any more. It is wise to evaluate clinically and not emotionally Our captain - not on par - if the head is on that level - the rest have a uphill battle. Then - the tackling - not on par Decisions - by example - Willie me Roux - hard earned ball retention - kicked away - zero plan behind it - with Ireland's response by running with that ball and we had to move backwards - Loosing the ball in attacks Turnovers Lack of fluent play with a well execution of plan
kurt elutin
Guest
This year we need 9 quotas in the matchday 23, 5 must start of which 2 must be forwards, minimum 4 on the bench
hopalong
Guest
Hated seeing the Bok scrum shunted backwards. Well played Boks for 20 minutes. Well played Ireland in the remaining 60. Dis altitude get to them?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well done Boks and their fans, amazing comeback. Thought it was going to blow out even worse to replace the Japan result as a not to good memory. Surreal, especially when the Boks usually struggle when they're behind. Bok rugby sure is changing.
I'm That Kinda GUY
Guest
Players like Travis Ismail, Sergeal Peterson, Jamba Ulengo have been better than Mvovo and are much more complete wingers, Mvovo should be dropped for anyone of the 3 above. Combrink should start with any of the 3 above playing bench. Drop le Roux and play Jesse Kriel at 15, and where has Louw been these two weeks he also needs the axe. My Team for next week is 1.Nyakane 2.Strauss 3.Malherbe 4.Etzebeth 5.du Toit 6.Kriel 7.Notshe 8.Whitely 9.de Klerk 10.Lambie 11. JP Peterson 12.de Allende 13.Mapoe 14.Combrink 15.Kriel 16.Scarra 17.Kitshoff 18.Redelinghuys 19.Mostert 20.Dan du Preez 21.Paige 22.Jantjies 23.Peterson
Harry Jones
Expert
Hahaha! I think we like our chances now in PE. Still thought IRE played very hard and low, but the reinforcements were key
Colm
Roar Guru
I can't see Ireland winning next week. Players like Jackson, Trimble, McGrath have been playing for close to 10 months now and looked bereft of energy. I would go for 1. Bealham, 2. Cronin, 3. Furlong, 4. Roux, 5. Dillane, 6, Ruddock, 7. Sean Reidy, 8. CJ Stander, 9. Marmion, 10.Madigan ?(Schmidt decided to leave behind Steenson/Holland) 11. Matt Healy, 12. Luke Marshall, 13. Olding, 14. Craig Gilroy, 15. Tiernan O'Halloran. There's no point in picking tired players.
Colm
Roar Guru
Can we shake hands on a 1- 1 draw and leave out the third test?
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
Completely agree, JT. Even after the Combrinck try, they were making errors - which led to Heaslip's score. Even right at the end (before the winning try) Jantjies missed touch from a penalty, luckily they got the ball back because Ireland kicked it straight at them.
Harry Jones
Expert
We saw the worst 140 minutes of Bok rugby in SA that I can ever remember. Then we saw 20 minutes of normal Bok rugby--hard and direct, running over defenders instead of crabbing for space and finding only touch, purposeful kicks, dominant tackling, and finishing skills--and THAT WAS ENOUGH. So, what will Coach Stick say now?
JT
Guest
As happy as I am about the victory, we can't forgot the rubbish dished up for 50+ minutes. I'm a little concerned that the altitude may have affected the Irish is the last 20, they looked a bit tired. Hopefully it actually was the springboks "clicking"
RobC
Roar Guru
not so simple. Ruan still had to run over Paddy to get to the tryline
RobC
Roar Guru
It came from Ruan Combrinck A winger had to come on and show the forwards and DdA how to play Rugby
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
Oh good point JT. Forgot about that. But isn't the quota limited to the matchday squad? Or is it both the starting team and matchday squad?
RobC
Roar Guru
whooo hooo!!!! thanks Connor, whos your MOTM?
JT
Guest
Lambie is available for the third test, but you can't drop Movovo, Kolisi and Jantjies and replace them with white players. They then aren't achieving the required amount of black players starting..
Just_win
Guest
Congrats to Boks, Ireland played very well for 60 mins including dominating the scrum. Boks have something to build on!
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
Wow, where did they pull this one out from? I think the second half showed us who should be starting, and who shouldn't. No surprise that the three people who got SA back into the match were the three scorers - Combrinck, Whiteley and Du Toit. Also, De Allende is useful when running at a tiring defence like Ireland's, but surely they can't persist with such a one-dimensional player against the likes of the Wallabies and All Blacks. Still, a good game from him. Oh how they would have loved Lambie to be back for the 3rd test.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Ireland looked stronger for most of the game, controlling the scrum and dominating the ruck for the most part, with South Africa often their own worst enemy. s But it proves you have to play 80 minutes to win a game, and Ireland failed to do so, collapsing under pressure with the finish in sight.
thabokruger
Roar Rookie
Clearly the substitutes including combrinck and mostert need to start. Jantjies was a zero on a contract.