South Africa v Ireland LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Springboks survive crazy finish to win first Test
South Africa 27-20 Ireland: The Springboks secured their first win over the Six Nations winners in eight years at Loftus Versfeld
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Your support makes all the difference.South Africa emerged on top from a crazy contest against Ireland in Pretoria as the World Cup winners marked their homecoming with victory in the first Test of a potentially thrilling series.
The Springboks secured their first win over Ireland in eight years at Loftus Versfeld, with their bench impactful in a contest punctuated by a serious injury to Ireland scrum half Craig Casey. After a long delay, Cheslin Kolbe pounced on a James Lowe error to put the hosts in control, with a late shove-over scrum score engineered by South Africa’s Bomb Squad sealing the win despite a late Irish rally.
Lowe had earlier been denied by a tight call from the television match official having seemingly put Ireland in front in the second half. Ireland, however, were deemed to have infringed at the breakdown prior to Lowe’s canter up the left touchline, with referee Luke Pearce chalking the score off.
It means Andy Farrell’s side will head to Durban next week down 1-0 in the two-Test series and hoping to hit back after an encounter that delivered on the spite and spice anticipated as two familiar foes re-ignited their rivalry.
Re-live all of the action rom South Africa vs Ireland below:
TRY! South Africa 20-15 IRELAND (Conor Murray, 76 minutes)
OR IS IT?!?
A neat inside move sends a carrier into space and Conor Murray is there in support! Jack Crowley wastes no time converting - do we have a twist?
Held up! South Africa 20-8 Ireland, 75 minutes
Ireland fume, but South Africa survive! Caelan Doris charges over to Luke Pearce, believing the ball might have been grounded by the left-hand post, but the referee is clear in his call that he’s held up.
Or is he? Pearce sends it upstairs for a look. No try! How unfortunate for Doris, grounding on a Springbok’s calf. Ireland within inches, but that, you’d think, will be that for their chances.
YELLOW CARD! Kurt-Lee Arendse is sent to the sin bin! South Africa 20-8 Ireland, 74 minutes
Another penalty...and Luke Pearce loses patience! To his pocket the referee goes as Kurt-Lee Arendse infringes, and South Africa will have to see this out down a man.
South Africa 20-8 Ireland, 72 minutes
Ciaran Frawley gets to the edge but can’t cling on to a pass shuffled behind him. Ireland have a free kick to go back to, though - off they go in haste, as well they might.
South Africa 20-8 Ireland, 71 minutes
Penalty to Ireland, South Africa failing to roll away. Nine minutes left as Jack Crowley prods to the left corner - Ireland have to score, you’d think.
South Africa 20-8 Ireland, 70 minutes
Stolen by Pieter-Steph du Toit! Big. Game. Player. Up goes a telescopic limb to snatch Ireland’s lineout from the clouds.
South Africa 20-8 Ireland, 68 minutes
Can Ireland recover from that blow? You feel like the break suited the Springboks, allowing their replacement forwards to recover and recharge after making a punchy initial impact.
A scuffle and a scrap as Luke Pearce awards a penalty Ireland’s way. It’s predictably spiky!
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 20-8 Ireland (Cheslin Kolbe try, 66 minutes)
An opportunistic score from Cheslin Kolbe to put the Springboks in control!
Oh, James Lowe...
A kick to touch is kept in by the Ireland wing, leaping impressively and throwing the ball back into play. The problem for him is that Kolbe has chased intelligently, hacking ahead and grounding.
Hang on, though - had Lowe’s boot just scraped the touchline before he released? It will be ruled out if so...
It’s so, so close. Lowe had released, but the ball might just have brushed his left thigh with the studs of his right boot in the turf. TMO Ben Whitehouse deliberates over the footage, working through the angles with referee Luke Pearce. Can they find an angle that shows it clearly?
GIVEN! Loftus Versfeld roars! Whitehouse urges Pearce to stick with the on-field call, and South AFrica, thanks to Handre Pollard’s conversion, extend their advantage by seven.
South Africa 13-8 Ireland, 64 minutes
Grant Williams is on for South Africa and will feed the scrum, the forwards taking their time to get their set-up right after the long pause. The Springboks immediately go to work, Gerhard Steenekamp producing a first standout scrummaging moment on debut at loosehead.
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