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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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:
South Africa 13-8 Ireland, 43 minutes
Bundee Aki slaps his head in frustration as he is caught with his hands in the cookie jar with the ruck long since formed. An apologetic hand goes up towards his team mates as South Africa find the corner.
South Africa 13-8 Ireland, 41 minutes
Ronan Kelleher is on for Ireland - unsurprising given the level of strapping on Dan Sheehan’s knee.
South Africa again with plenty of adventure to start the half.
Second half...
Right, just about ready to resume in Pretoria. This one could go anywhere - will the Springboks’ power-packed bench tilt this contest their way, or can Ireland match them all the way?
HT: South Africa 13-8 Ireland
A relatively even first half in Pretoria, South Africa showing off some attacking expansion but not quite able to cut Ireland apart, the visitors sticking in there but having to work hard to make the most of their opportunities. It’s been mightily physical, as you’d have expected.
HALF TIME: South Africa 13-8 Ireland
South Africa 13-8 Ireland, 41 minutes
The clock is dead but South Africa play on just inside the Ireland half. Frans Malherbe makes a rare surge, showing Cheslin Kolbe how it is done as the wing is tonked on his back a phase later.
But a turnover, and that’ll be that for the half.
South Africa 13-8 Ireland, 38 minutes
Old school defence from Ireland, standing up a defender and swarming to smother in, forcing a turnover as it comes to deck. Andrew Porter is pinged again, though, in the next movement, once more over-eager to take Faf de Klerk having driven through a ruck.
TRY! South Africa 13-8 IRELAND (Jamie Osborne, 36 minutes)
A simply magnificent try conjured from nowhere!
Jamie Osborne is the try scorer on debut but this is all about the supreme skill of the three men to touch it before him. Jack Crowley is first, arcing a delicious pass over the top for Dan Sheehan to hit at pace. The hooker deftly drops off to James Lowe on the switch out the back door, and the wing’s role in the score is best of all, somehow keeping himself in the field of play as Cheslin Kolbe rocks him and contorting an offload over the top.
Osborne can’t help but flop over from a few metres out. Magic stuff!
South Africa 13-3 Ireland, 35 minutes
Strong fringe defence from the Springboks forwards, knocking back the carriers. Caelan Doris puts some footwork on and makes half-a-metre, but Dan Sheehan’s foolish offload squanders some momentum. James Lowe picks up the pieces and Ireland keep on trucking, though they aren’t getting much joy.
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