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Juan Smith: First try of the game
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- Minute-by-minute: How the Springbok pack dominated in Dublin
South Africa survived a late comeback from Ireland to record their first victory on Irish soil in ten years, winning 23-21 at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
There have been a few comments regarding 'traditional' Test match rugby of late and the purists wouldn't have been disappointed in Dublin.
A late conversion from Ronan O'Gara bounced off an upright to deny Ireland a draw that had seemed unlikely only a few minutes earlier after South Africa had controlled the game from the outset.
In soaking wet conditions, the set piece was always going to be primordial and the Springboks' dominance in both the scrums and line-outs laid the platform for victory.
With a few familiar faces missing from the Bok back-line, the visitors probably welcomed the rain as it allowed their experienced pack to rule the roost.
The hosts weren't doing themselves any favours though - crooked throw-ins, early engagements and fumbled passes became all too frequent under the pressure from the tourists.
Ireland did enough however to remain in contact and a purple patch in the final quarter brought them within inches of grabbing a share of the spoils as the Boks switched off.
With expansive play not advisable, South Africa's ball retention in the tight stuff was key to the outcome and few can deny the right team came out on top.
The hosts could hardly get their hands on the ball in the first quarter and South Africa's 10-0 lead after seventeen minutes was a fair reflection of the early proceedings.
An Irish fumble under pressure at a line-out allowed Juan Smith to latch onto the loose ball and gallop 50m for the game's first try to add to Morné Steyn's early penalty.
Jonathan Sexton got Ireland on the board from the tee just before the half-hour mark but the men in green had hardly threatened the South African try-line.
The respective fly-halves exchanged penalties with Sexton adding his second just before the break to send the teams to the changing rooms at 13-6 to the South Africans.
A change of shirts for Ireland at half-time didn't change the complexion of the match and Steyn was allowed to extend the lead with half-an-hour left on the clock.
Sexton replied a few minutes later to keep the home side in touch going into the final quarter.
A number of eyebrows were raised when Springboks coach Peter de Villiers replaced Steyn with 20-year-old Patrick Lambie. The young Shark missed a sitter with his first attempt at goal and will be a relieved man that O'Gara couldn't find the target at the death.
The killer blow seemed to have been dealt with fifteen minutes to play when Gio Aplon cut inside off his wing to take a switch pass from Zane Kirchner and cruise home untouched.
Ireland hadn't played their last card however.
Replacement pivot O'Gara's cross-field kick found Tommy Bowe out wide and the winger raced home to set up a grandstand finish.
Ireland finally sparked into life and their best spell of the game saw Rob Kearney at the end of a long pass (that was almost intercepted by Aplon) to score in the corner.
One can't blame O'Gara from missing a difficult conversion and his wry smile told the tail of a disappointing evening for Ireland.
Man of the match: Hats off the South African pack. Victor Matfield was supreme in the line-outs, but we'll go for Juan Smith - not just for his try, but for carrying the ball like a gladiator and tackling like a machine.
Moment of the match: Ireland were hanging on until Aplon's try gave the visitors a fourteen-point lead. In the final reckoning it proved decisive but also sparked a revival from the hosts that produced the most exciting period of the match.
Villain of the match: What a shame this thrilling Test was to see so many empty seats in such a magnificent stadium. Whoever came up with IRFU's ticketing strategy got it horribly wrong!
The scorers:
For Ireland:
Tries: Bowe, Kearney
Con: O'Gara
Pens: Sexton 3
For South Africa:
Tries: Smith, Aplon
Cons: Steyn, Lambie
Pens: Steyn 3
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donncha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Keith Earls.
South Africa: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Zane Kirchner, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Adi Jacobs, 22 Patrick Lambie.
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
TMO: Hugh Watkins (Wales)
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Comments
smarty says...
Well I have got to tell you I would much rather be a bok supporter than an aussie one even though the aussies have an incredible backline. With a scrum walked into the ground best they go play rugby league because they are definitely not playing union.
Also a quick reminder that before you can beat the boks with a running game you need to a) best them at the breakdown b) match them in the scrums and lineouts c) dont give away penaties
Posted 00:23 08th November 2010
MunsterManTeets says...
Congrads Bok's. They played the conditions and played to their strengths, I don't understand how Ireland try to run the ball to the sidelines the very first chance they get. Basic rugby - you have to create space before you can play it. Go through a few phases. Poor game plan. I don't think ROG would have made much of a difference if he was started he would still have to defend and probably end up with concussion using his patented 'put my head in the way of your knees' tackle. If SA had a creative 10 this could have been a massacre. As I said before Micko is not an international second row. ML and HC is his plateau, maybe Ireland A. Well done again Boks
Posted 20:33 07th November 2010
Rolf says...
CVomon, y'all: that was a CLOSE game!
If the boys in green had changed their half pairing earlier, i am certain they would have turned the game - and deservingly so. espcially stringer produced great ball.
Although the lineouts and the forward opengame were dominated by SA, I was surprised by the scrumming, which I rated equal. Does someone remember what last year Boks did to the Lions, especially Vickery? well, Ireland stood up and they stood tall.
Shame that Lambie had such a unlucky start, but maybe it is good to give him a litttle bummer.
I was asurprised by Gio & Zane who did a decent job so out of position.
It will be interesting to see how both teams cope with their next challenges..
Posted 20:16 07th November 2010
brazilrugger says...
i always root for SA or NZ, they the greatest teams! What should shock everyone is that SA with a B team (no one can deny that) beat Ireland at home. thats disgraceful for the Irish. Also, why can 3 SH teams come and beat the NH teams in the ir backyard. I mean the disparity is ridiculous actually. Soemthing needs to be done to make rugby more unpredictable.
Posted 18:15 07th November 2010
saffalltheway says...
I rest my case see my previous pre-match post! The game cannot be predicted well done SA and unlucky Ireland. Look forward to our next match!
Posted 13:40 07th November 2010
Clinton says...
Well done to the Boks, but PDV really should stop playing cowboys and crooks with replacements. Honestly, did he really think he could take the Irish so lightly even after 70-odd minutes?? I have no problem with introducing young players into a game in order to blood them, but making so many changes because the scoreboard is so misleading doesn't carry any substance in any rugby-lover's opinion. Anyway, keep up the good work guys! Bokke 4 ever!!
Posted 08:29 07th November 2010
gregs says...
Trust the Irish to muck it up. With both hands tied behind their backs, practically blindfolded, with an unforgiving mad Welsh referee without a conscience dolling out Yellows to desperately level the playing field and our lads feigning butterfingers like WWF wrestlers - our team of baby Boks (mostly out of position) beat Irelands so-called Worlds Best when everyone in SA was saying under 20 points for the Irish would a virtual win for SA ? Ha, ha, ha... too funny - Let the history books record for ALL eternity - South Africa win the Aviva roof-wetter and raise their flag over Dublin and the new Lansdowne Road ... when we tried to gift it to the poor Micks !
Posted 06:33 07th November 2010
rugbyrabbit says...
@jacques ... happy to patronize you and give you a geography lesson if that's what you want .... ;) ... last time I checked, even though the UK (begrudgingly at that) and Ireland are part of the EU, they're certainly not in the same time zone as mainland Europe, who are currently one hour behind South Africa!
ok, ... a 2 hour time zone change makes the "jet lag" argument somewhat tenuous! :)
Posted 05:23 07th November 2010
Bokswillprevail says...
The game is not over until 90 minutes - wise words from our wise coach. BBC coverage was terrible and it felt like watching from a skyscraper, plus the commentators never noticed the yellow card! A win is a win though.
Posted 02:48 07th November 2010
bigb69 says...
To answer nickwaiheke - the last time NZ failed to score a try was 7 August 2004. It has now been 80 tests in a row since they failed to score I try. I believe the next best run is 46.
The Boks certainly controlled the whole game, and it would have been a bit unfair if Ireland had snuck a draw, but if you don't put a team away it can bit you.
Incidentally re: Aplon nearly getting an intercept, the above write up fails to mention the pass looped up because a SAF defender reached up and knocked it on - and advantage was being played from an earlier penalty. In the end it could have been better for Ireland if he did incept they may have scored closer to the post from that - you never know.
Posted 02:46 07th November 2010
JeanLucJoinel says...
Ireland were dreadful ...but then they have been sporadically dreadful for the past year. even this very mediocre SA team performing well below par really should have done much better against such a desperately unimaginative and technically inept Irish team.
southern hemisphere 3 , northern hemisphere 0. oh dear.
Posted 01:00 07th November 2010
andrewinkorea says...
Despite much laughter in parts of Ireland, readers of planetrugby named Declan Kidney the best coach of the past decade. Well, Mr. Kidney, today was a brutal experience for you. Firstly, most, if not all, of your key selections decisions were proven wrong, as many of us were saying all week. Best (can't throw, ineffective around the park), Buckley (when will the Irish public realise he simply can't scrummage at this level?), Mick O'Driscoll (line out leader? HAHA. Another bad call made after one good game for Munster), back row (Wallace was lucky, but Ferris was not good tonight. Lazy defending from the scrum) and Reddan (worst scrum half ever to wear green?). Sexton had a nightmare, Kearney and Healy too. Of the starters, only Fitzgerald (who, after looking our most dangerous back in the first half, we decided not to pass to in the second 40) and Bowe are without criticism.
Most worringly, however, was Kindey's post match comments on RTE. There he was telling the Irish public that he is not a fan of using his subs bench. The reason? Making early changes means "that by the end you may only have 13 guys on the pitch.". Brilliant Declan, world class coaching indeed.
My proposal is for the IRFU to stop taking the players off the provinces when they feel like it. O'Sullivan and friends wrecked the clubs before the last world cup, What was the outcome? Humiliation. Again Irish players are removed from competitive duty, locked up in training, and turn up shell shocked and nervous. Shadows of the men playing in the Magners and Heineken. Same mistake, 4 years on.
You can't deliver us a good international team, at least let our clubs compete!!!
Posted 00:20 07th November 2010
jacques says...
@ rugbyrabbit:
Jet lag? As far as I recall, SA remains in the same time zone as Europe.
Posted 23:12 06th November 2010
MadIrishman says...
The Boks won. Even a 'B' side as it was won. The records will show for ever more that it 'looked' like a close result - far from it. Ireland lost more than the Boks won. This is a loss that the IRFU need to shoulder as well as the team & coaches. From the outset the new stadium should have been celebrated - give the tickets away if need be. 'Welcome home' indeed.
Next: As a big Kidney fan I had trouble with this team, esp. the bench. I know it is my (unpaid/armchair) opinion but it just looked wrong. The man is usually good at mixing it up but it looks like now the famous 'Ginger' Macloghlan quote has been reborn "Tis harder to get off the Irish team than to get on it". Granted O'Gara had a great game (and Sexton not a bad game) but maybe 10 min earlier would have been better and with more players coming on. I feel Cullen would have been a better choice (and he is no real Spring Chicken) and any mid field bar what we had. The front row is a worry as it ruins my argument about fresh blood but there has to be better out there. Tom Court seemed to cope well..is there hope?
Next: The pack. Open play was good, defence good. Set pieces..well 'nuff said. Ball handling average at best. Bad day at the office for a pack that on paper has better. How can we lose that many line outs? Munster are a great example of rolling mauls but they got mauled ? badly!
Next: Backs. We had some, I saw them when the Anthems were finished & they took up positions. Once the game started however what we had were a bunch of players. No cohesion, no link and certainly no ball handling. Granted there were moments of brilliance but, Hell - they are paid a fortune to get this right EVERYTIME!
It is going to be a long road back from this & I don't know if I can get up at 4.30am anymore to watch it. Come on Boys - give the fans something to cling to.
Posted 21:34 06th November 2010
Brett says...
Another game that was nearly thrown away by PDV due to his once again senseless substitutions ! This has happened far to often now its past a joke! Well done to the boks they had to play to their strengths wich they did obviously helped by a shocking performance by Ireland.I feel if O; Gara had have started it would have been different
Posted 21:27 06th November 2010
scot_rsa says...
Still don't like the rash of Bok substitutions that aways seems to occur just before a late comeback from the opposition. Does PdV really need to disrupt the pattern when the game is under control? Thank goodness Jean was fit for the game, Aplon did well and call me old-fashioned but I love a rolling-maul. Wales will show more backbone in the scrum but still think the Boks will master them up front. Frans in at centre will help a lot too.
Posted 21:03 06th November 2010
dafydd29 says...
On a different note, Aplon's "body armour" either slipped or were protecting his breasts - it certainly looked like a bra to me. Is this the new way to win games? i.e. their "female" sprinter?
Posted 21:00 06th November 2010
nickwaiheke says...
it does show how much Carter does other than just great kicking when was the last time the AB backs didn't score a try?
Posted 20:54 06th November 2010
Ricker says...
The Bok pack were totally dominant today. Irish ball was always going backwards and I hardly saw BOD today. So much for the Planetrugby prediction ( Ireland by 10 points). Kirchner looked OK, Bismarck, Spies, Matfield and Aplon were all good today. The doom prophets got it all wrong. Keep this up Boks!
Posted 20:30 06th November 2010
papachinzo says...
Disgraceful from the Irish, the Half backs, Wallace and Kearney were all rubbish...
Lesson's - O'Gara to start against kicking teams like SA
We know indefinitely that Roy Best and Mick O'Driscoll cannot be selected again!! O'Brian, Stringer, Casey, Murphy and Cronin to start against the AB's!! (this however will most likely not happen....) and Never to underestimate a top team like South Africa... no matter how bad they may look!
Posted 20:16 06th November 2010