Captain Rory Best feels Ireland can still clinch a historic series triumph in South Africa with the right mental attitude in the third and final Test, despite letting a second successive victory slip from their hands at the weekend.
Ireland, who won in South Africa for the first time in the opening test in Cape Town, led the Springboks by 16 points with 20 minutes to go in Saturday’s second Test before being overwhelmed by a rousing comeback by the home side.
“Obviously it was incredibly disappointing and frustrating but we know now it’s 1-1 and we still have a chance to win a Test series over here,” said Best as he and his teammates headed to Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
“I think probably the most important thing over the next days is to take this loss on the chin. Sometimes you need to just let these losses dwell in you a little bit and then come out the other side stronger.
Ireland were 19-3 up at halftime and in command against a Bok team jeered off at the interval by their own supporters. The tourists led 26-10 with around 20 minutes to go before a resurgent South Africa steamrollered a tiring opponent to win.
“If we get ourselves in that position again in the next Test then we have to make sure we don’t make the same errors we did this weekend,” said Best after winning his 96th cap for Ireland.
“It will take a big investment from us but we came here to win a Test series and we are still in with a shout of doing that.”
The last-gasp defeat would make Ireland better as a team and individuals would learn from the experience, he said.
“So we’ll hurt for a little bit, dust ourselves down and take a big stride forward to try and improve,” Best said.
superba
Guest
Well I do care and live in a sucessful country where selection on merit is both valued and cherished .If as a consequence of these selection policies SA slide in the rankings and become transformation easy beats, you are right - that no one will care .A pyrrhic victory. People will just not turn up to watch and finances will suffer as SA rugby slowly sinks into the mire .The National side should be chosen on merit .If not the team should be excluded from world rugby .It would be nice to know when transformation is to end .If ever .
Gilbert
Guest
SA 25?
Harry Jones
Expert
Interesting chess match in the kicking contest. In the 1H of Test 2, IRE kicked 20 times, almost all to SA's left side. Coetzee had only left-footed exit kickers, until Combrinck came on. Look for Ruan to start in Test 3; and if Elton misses a third of his kicks as he did in Test 2 (and all season) Ruan and Morne may take over.
Harry Jones
Expert
Pot Hale, I think you might see a reshuffled Bok front row this weekend. Kitshoff seems to be getting a run at loosehead (Beast looked just as bad as Malherbe, really). Dunno how the scrums will turn out, but I think they can hardly get worse.
Derm
Roar Guru
Both have played 12 in the last two tests. Why would they get bulldozed this time? Different opponents?
Derm
Roar Guru
I'm very happy for you Harry. It will be very interesting to see whether "the sky is falling" brigade disappear after the next match. I'm kinda hoping he puts out O'Halloran and Healy for next match. Building squad size is equally important at this point before the season ends next Saturday. 17 tests in this season should see at least a good return on new capped players.
Mike
Guest
It seems likely he'll go for Olding and Marshall...which will be terrifying to watch haha.. I hope the young men don't get bulldozed ! McGrath, best, Ross, Henderson, toner, stander, ruddock, heaslip, Murrey, Jackson, earls, Olding, Marshall, Trimble, Payne?
Harry Jones
Expert
Pot Hale, finally we have a 12.
I don't think anyone outside SA cares whether it is a quota based selection or not, in their books a win is a win, if the prevailing politics make it easier to beat the Boks, then that's a plus.
superba
Guest
Well Steve there is thst transformation issue which gets in the way of merit selection .To my mind neither Mvovo nor Kolisi are up to international standard .Mvovo never seems to create much .Combrinck has been the form SA right wing all season .Whiteley has stepped up after going m.i.a. in his first Springbok matches .Vermeulen should be benched as he is underdone .Jaco Kriel should be in the squad. If Ireland play an SA Transformation team they will win .If Ireland has to play a Bok side selected on merit the Boks will win .As we saw Saturday when arguably the best Bok side on merit played out the last 25mins to rescue the match.
Derm
Roar Guru
Henshaw has to have surgery so he's gone from tour. Third change up in midfield for the final test. Options are just play Marshall and Olding where they play together for Ulster and leave Payne at FB. Or bring Payne's defensive nous back into centre and pair with Marshall/Olding. Tiernan O'Halloran in his specialist position at FB. Ross will likely come back in at tighthead with Furlong on bench. Stander back at 6, so Dillane/Roux to partner Toner. Earls needs to replace Gilroy on the wing - he's the better defender. Should be a good game.
splinter
Guest
If we pick the right players. Who deserves a third chance.
ThugbyFan
Guest
To me, this was the most interesting match on the weekend. The Irish took control of the rucks and determined to play the game in the SA 25, waiting for mistakes or penalties. The SA believed in their running game behind a powerful rucking pack. Almost the archetype of the NH vs SH game. For drama, the Aus vs England was the best match, but as an Aussie the lack of tactical nous shown by the WB was infuriating against a very committed, smart and talented England side. The real drama was in the ferocity of the breakdowns even if half of them were illegal. The AB match was almost ho-hum, swatting away a Welsh team lacking too many of their gun players. Likely the high veldt tired out the Irish in that last 20 minutes plus the Boks really fired up with their replacements. The Irish really looked out on their feet. Credit to the SA side which played the better game (4 tries to 2) and tough luck to Ireland whose constant in-your-face pressure game almost got them home. I have no allegiance to either side, personally for the 1st try I thought the Irish winger was off-side when his 5/8 kicked the up-n-under but the referee and linesmen called it OK so you have to cop it. Looking forward to the 3rd match, on lower ground so this fit committed Irish side will be very hard to beat.
Steve
Guest
Alistair Coetzee needs to be brave with his selections. The tried and tested aren't working. Choose the inform Super Rugby players, like Combrink, S.Pietersen, J.Kriel, Whitely, Marx etc. Do that and we'll win.
Harry Jones
Expert
These are very polite and non-fouling Boks, so we might just give the game to the Irish (who knows?), but in reality, I think Ireland just wasted their best chance in history to win a series in SA and I think the Boks will take care of business early this time, and put up a good tally, whilst keeping the visitors from scoring a try.
Not Bothered
Guest
Well they did beat SA and have a few times recently.
superba
Guest
It depends which Bok side they play against .The first half Bok team or the lsecond half last 20min Bok team .