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 7-0 Ireland, 10 minutes
Handre Pollard skuds a kick through but James Lowe has it handled, dotting down to earn a goal line drop out. Ireland’s defensive set was much better there, not getting too narrow as for this opening score.
South Africa 7-0 Ireland, 9 minutes
An early advantage for Ireland at scrum time, but Kwagga Smith wisely takes the pot off the boil and scurries away. That’s some clearance from Cheslin Kolbe, too, showing off his big right boot.
And to make it even better, it had just brushed Jamie Osborne’s fingers before tumbling into touch. South Africa gain all of 60 metres.
South Africa 7-0 Ireland, 7 minutes
Knocked on! Ireland go route one and then try to vary the angle, Caelan Doris peeling back on the diagonal but met well by two hulking South Africans. Peter O’Mahony’s flick off the floor is then fumbled by a carrying Joe McCarthy - and there are our first handbags, players from both sides pushing and jawing at one another.
South Africa 7-0 Ireland, 6 minutes
Advantage coming, and a second penalty, too, both for offside. Can Ireland find the right play? No, Jesse Kriel tumbles in to Craig Casey and knocks the scrum half off his feet as he looks to pass. Nothing untoward.
Ireland will tap quickly!
South Africa 7-0 Ireland, 5 minutes
A peculiar error from the normally rock solid Kwagga Smith, losing track of Jack Crowley’s restart and knocking on inside his own. An excellent shot at an immediate reply for Ireland.
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 7-0 Ireland (Kurt-Lee Arendse, 3 minutes)
Irresistable stepping!
Magnificent from Kurt-Lee Arendse! He’s just so tricky to get to grips with, all flashing feet and fancy flicks. Siya Kolisi puts him away up the left and Jamie Osborne is left sliding clutching at thin air as Arendse does him with his hips, strutting beneath the posts to go in untouched. Handre Pollard adds the two.
South Africa 0-0 Ireland, 2 minutes
A frighteningly physical opening. Pieter-Steph du Toit punches over the gain line; Franco Mostert is thwacked back. Jamie Osborne makes a better job of his next assignment, weaving through traffic and taking cleanly.
South Africa 0-0 Ireland, 1 minute
A bit of an early worry for Jamie Osborne as a box kick doesn’t reach him, forcing a retreating forward to tap it back to the full-back. South Africa soon wrench breakdown ball away.
KICK OFF!
The first Test is underway at Loftus Versfeld!
South Africa vs Ireland
Right, off we go. South Africa, as is tradition in rugby, are in their change strip; Ireland familiar green.
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