Ireland outlast South Africa to win 19-16 in bruising battle

DUBLIN, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Ireland came out on top in a physical battle against South Africa with a 19-16 victory on Saturday that handed the top side in the global rankings a psychological boost over the world champions ahead of their title defence next year.

After a ferocious first 40 minutes that had more injuries than clean line breaks, the game opened up early in the second half with quickfire tries from Josh van der Flier and Mack Hansen that put Ireland 16-6 ahead.

The host’s defence finally buckled 13 minutes from time when South Africa lock Franco Mostert stretched over but their lack of a recognised goalkicker proved costly as a Johnny Sexton penalty meant a 76th minute Kurt-Lee Arendse try was not enough.

“It was a real, proper test match, South Africa pressure you in way that not many other teams do,” Ireland captain Sexton said in a pitchside interview. “We dug in, we didn’t play at our best but sometimes they don’t let you.”

That pressure was clear in an intense start when Ireland had to survive a 17 phase South African blitz, an early indication of how well equipped Andy Farrell’s men were to weather it.

With chances few and far between, Ireland failed to take advantage of a Cheslin Kolbe yellow card and it was the 14 men who were guilty of not putting points on the board. Damian Willemse, who struggled all day at flyhalf, badly missed a shot at goal.

Sexton was never going to miss from point-blank range shortly before the break after the first multi-phase attack of the game for Ireland which began with a Conor Murray lineout break that turned back the clock on the scrumhalf’s 100th cap.

However that was it for the landmark appearance after he pulled up in the process.

South Africa lock Lood de Jager left the field at the same time cradling his arm after the attritional encounter earlier ended Stuart McCloskey’s impressive start with a similar injury, a cruel blow in just his seventh Irish cap in seven years.

Kolbe, starting at fullback for the first time, added another unfamiliar role to his day when he took over kicking duties and levelled with a penalty in front of the posts.

Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong joined the injury list when he failed to emerge after the break but they made the early breakthrough when Van der Flier sneaked over the line when it looked like the Springboks had driven the Irish pack into touch.

The hosts struck again three minutes later, turning the visitors over on one wing before Hansen finished off on the other to make it 16-6.

South Africa emptied their bench on the hour and one of the those replacements, Mostert, got them back into the game but Kolbe failed to add the extra points.

Sexton made up for two missed conversions with the crucial touchline penalty and Ireland followed up their first ever three-test series victory in New Zealand in July with another important win against a team they will face again in the World Cup pool stages in France in 10 months’ time.

Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Ken Ferris

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.