Ireland vs South Africa LIVE rugby: Result and final score in thrilling autumn international
Andy Farrell’s side put a marker down against the Springboks ahead of a World Cup rematch next year
Ireland did enough to beat world champion South Africa 19-16 in an arm wrestle at Lansdowne Road on Saturday to justify its ascent to No. 1 in the rankings.
Ireland broke a 6-6 halftime deadlock with two tries in four minutes early in the second half, the first from a lineout maul by flanker Josh van der Flier and then a more expansive counterattack score from left wing Mack Hansen.
Ireland led 16-6 at that point and appeared set to see the game home, but South Africa bit back through replacement forward Franco Mostert and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, whose try in the left corner with three minutes to go threatened an upset in Dublin.
Ireland didn’t let it happen and continued its impressive recent record at Lansdowne Road, where it has won three straight against the Springboks.
The result gave Ireland more confidence after it won an historic test series in New Zealand in July. It also struck a psychological blow for the Irish with the teams set to meet in the pool stage at next year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
Wales 23-41 New Zealand, 72 minutes
But the New Zealand defence holds. There’s nothing doing immediately after the lineout, and little options present themselves wider, either. Will Rowlands is lined up by the mightily meaty shoulders of Dalton Papali’i and Ardie Savea, and free from his arms tumbles the slippery ball.
Wales 23-41 New Zealand, 70 minutes
Two penalties against New Zealand in the same movement, the first against a midfield defender who is offside, the second against Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who flops on a loose ball within a metre of the ruck, which is no longer allowed.
Sam Costelow boots the penalty into the corner...
Wales 23-41 New Zealand, 68 minutes
Oh so close to an opportunistic score from Gareth Anscombe!
A kick ends up in the Welsh full-back’s hands as he leaps to charge it down, and off he sets for the line. Perhaps before that horrible leg injury in 2019, Anscombe would have had the toe to get there, but Richie Mo’unga just about reels him in, trapping the arms just enough to prevent an accurate offload that would have allowed Rio Dyer to crash over. As it is, Dyer can only prod with his right foot into touch.
Wales 23-41 New Zealand, 67 minutes
A debut for Sam Costelow at fly-half for Wales - the 21-year-old has long been regarded as a potential ten of the future, lured back into the country after starring in Leicester’s academy.
TRY! Wales 23-41 NEW ZEALAND (Ardie Savea try, 65 minutes)
At last a gap opens and Ardie Savea gets the try he so deserves!
Patient, patient stuff from New Zealand, even with the advantage. Wales tire as the phase count grows, and eventually a hole appears next to the ruck as Savea gets back to his feet after slipping at the base.
The number eight nearly makes an embarassing mess of the finish, leaping entirely unneccesarily up into the air not realising Will Rowlands is close by, but just about gets the nose of the ball against the grass past the Welsh lock’s arm.
Richie Mo’unga misses from the tee.
Wales 23-36 New Zealand, 63 minutes
A familiar pattern from New Zealand, their eight forwards punching around the corner, Wales battling, largely in vain, to halt them. Christ Tshiunza just about gets a handle of Ardie Savea.
The crowd jeers as Caleb Clarke spills, but the ball went backwards.
And now New Zealand have an advantage for offside.
Wales 23-36 New Zealand, 61 minutes
A penalty against Wales at the scrum, which hasn’t functioned particularly well this afternoon.
Shannon Frizell is New Zealand’s latest leaver; Akira Ioane into the back row ahead of a lineout 30 metres out from the Welsh line.
Wales 23-36 New Zealand, 60 minutes
More changes for New Zealand - Samisoni Taukei’aho and Fletcher Newell complete the set of front row replacements, while Anton Lienert-Brown is on at 13, Rieko Ioane shifting to the wing.
And it is for Ioane that Richie Mo’unga lifts his latest crossfield number. Ioane is favourite to get to it, too, but it just fizzes onwards as it lands on the slick surface, forcing Ioane out of play.
Wales 23-36 New Zealand, 58 minutes
Nearly a moment of magic from Tomos Williams! He impels Wayne Barnes to give him the penalty rather than an advantage as New Zealand infringe at a ruck, granting him the chance to tap and advance for ten metres with the All Blacks unable to touch him.
A sharp, jabbing left-footed step takes him beyond opposite number Aaron Smith, and Justin Tipuric takes an in-field offload...which drifts ever so slightly forward from the hands!
Wales 23-36 New Zealand, 56 minutes
A few changes in the last few minutes. Intriguing lock/back row prospect Christ Tshiunza is on for Wales after an eye-catching start to the season for Exeter, while Ofa Tu’ungafasi has replaced Ethan de Groot in the New Zealand front row.
Tshiunza’s lineout take leads to an offside penalty against the All Blacks.
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