New Zealand v Ireland LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Ireland make history by winning deciding Test
Follow reaction as Ireland make history by beating the All Blacks in a titanic series decider
A courageous Ireland held off a fierce All Blacks fightback to claim an epic 32-22 win in the series-deciding third test in Wellington on Saturday.
Beaten in the opening test at Eden Park, Ireland completed rare back-to-back victories over New Zealand following their win in the second match at Dunedin.
It was not only a first series victory in New Zealand for the Irish but the first time the All Blacks have lost a series on home soil since 1994.
Josh van der Flier, Hugo Keenan and Robbie Henshaw all crossed in the first half as the visitors surged into a 22-3 lead but the All Blacks hit back and got to within three points. But Rob Herring’s try 15 minutes from time proved decisive as Andy Farrell led his men to an historic triumph.
Follow live reaction from New Zealand vs Ireland in the series decider, below:
South Africa 27-14 Wales, 79 minutes
Malcolm Marx has been typically strong since coming on, those boulder shoulders so tough to shift when they are locked over the top of the ball. Tomos Williams tries, but from the side, and even his illegal clearout won’t move the mighty Marx. Penalty to South Africa, and Handre Pollard will waste the limited time left by again kicking for goal.
PENALTY! SOUTH AFRICA 27-14 Wales (Handre Pollard penalty, 78 minutes)
A clean swipe of right boot through the back of the ball and that is it for Wales’ faint chances.
South Africa 24-14 Wales, 76 minutes
Twice more Wales infringe as South Africa try to turn the screw. The first penalty comes at the maul, before Malcolm Marx carries punchily, and then again, forcing Dan Biggar to dart offside to prevent Faf de Klerk using quick ball. Handre Pollard will extend South Africa’s advantage from 15 metres out.
South Africa 24-14 Wales, 74 minutes
Wales are penalised for offside. South Africa can in theory play with the freedom of the advantage, but Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard aren’t keen for anything extravagant, the fly-half almost coming to a complete stop to eventually convince Matthew Carley to just blow his whistle and aloow him to punt to touch.
South Africa 24-14 Wales, 73 minutes
Wales do look dangerous, but the final piece of the puzzle isn’t quite falling into place. Tomos Williams’ explorations of the left touchline are excellent, but Taine Basham can’t quite collect the scrum-half’s in-field pass.
South Africa 24-14 Wales, 71 minutes
What a turnover from Kwagga Smith! Wales fizz the ball wide to the let, and an untimely slip grants acres of room for Josh Adams to charge up. Makazole Mapimpi and Damian Willemse combine to fell the wing, and Smith knifes in, spearing the ball and spinning away from the ruck with it. Superb from the former sevens star.
South Africa 24-14 Wales, 70 minutes
Off the fingertips! It looks a good dart from Lake, but the lifted player isn’t quite up high enough to grasp it, and Siya Kolisi is alive at the back of the lineout to snare the bouncing ball.
South Africa 24-14 Wales, 69 minutes
The lineout drive brings more disciplinary issues for South Africa - Franco Mostert comes in at the side as Wales begin to rumble. Dan Biggar kicks towards the right corner, from where Dewi Lake will throw.
South Africa 24-14 Wales, 68 minutes
Penalty to Wales just inside their own half. South Africa are trying to shut the game down, play the percentages and build territorial pressure, but the Springboks aren’t quite nailing their accuracy.
South Africa 24-14 Wales, 66 minutes
The game just slows for a while as the two sides trade high, long punts. The last of them flies out on halfway from a Welsh boot, and it is from there that South Africa will next attack, Malcolm Marx hitting his jumper at the lineout.
And another high kick ends up in South African hands! Louis Rees-Zammit knocks on...
But South Africa once more waste the position, threading a kick in behind, but only towards a covering Welshman.
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