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:
H/T: South Africa 17-8 Wales
How that Bongi Mbonambi score will make South Africa feel better about a first half they have largely controlled. For the first time this series, the Springboks found their power game early, firing out of the blocks. Wales did well to re-establish some degree of parity, and Tommy Reffell’s well-taken score keeps them in it, but they have struggled for discipline and to win defensive collisions.
South Africa have reminded everyone of their DNA: strong set-piece and kick-chase, and then power runners around the corner. You can know what is coming and still find it mighty hard to stop.
South Africa 17-8 Wales, 39 minutes
Nearly another for South Africa! Kwagga Smth, who is on as a replacement in the back row, rips the ball away from Welsh hands inside his own half, and Wales are under-resourced in behind as South Africa kick up the right.
Lukhanyo Am looks set to be first to it and fancies a fly-hack on and a pursuit into the in-goal, but two right-ward hops take it over the touchline before Am can extend his right boot to it. Wales survive, and an efficient lineout drill closes the half.
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 17-8 Wales (Bongi Mbonambi try, 38 minutes)
A try on his 50th cap for Bongi Mbonambi! It was telegraphed, a throw to the centre of the lineout and then a go at the maul, and though Wales initially stand strong, they can’t quell the developing might of the South African drive.
Mbonambi gets his eyes up, waiting for his moment to release from the back, waiting for the last of the Welsh big’uns to be tied in and then picking a half-hole beside Kieran Hardy. He powers over, and Handre Pollard adds the conversion.
South Africa 10-8 Wales, 36 minutes
South Africa soon have ball back and the Cape Town Stadium crowd lifts the volume as their Springboks attack with intent and energy. Siya Kolisi charges up the right, eschewing any thought of a pass to Lukhanyo Am outside him to instead rumble on further.
Penalty advantage again to South Africa, for an offside Welshman. Matt Carley halts proceedings because Josh Adams and Damian de Allende are having a shoving match - a timely intervention from the referee before that escalated into something more disruptive. Both captains are reminded of the need for their sides to behave themselves.
Handre Pollard prods into the right corner.
South Africa 10-8 Wales, 35 minutes
Penalty to Wales for a high tackle inside their own 22, and might this be more bother for Makazole Mapimpi? It’s a clash of heads with Nick Tompkins, who is already grasped at the ankles by a South African, and thus losing his balance.
Matthew Carley, in consultation with his TMO, decides that a falling Tompkins is mitigation enough to rule only a penalty.
PENALTY! South Africa 10-8 WALES (Dan Biggar penalty, 33 minutes)
And Dan Biggar makes sure that Du Toit is punished with a clean strike between the posts.
South Africa 10-5 Wales, 32 minutes
South Africa give away three! Jaden Hendrikse gets his box kick away in relative comfort, but Pieter-Steph du Toit extends his arms into a leaping Alun Wyn Jones, who is attempting to charge him down. Du Toit looks rather confused by the decision of Matthew Carley, who informs the flanker that he had earlier warned Jasper Wiese about a similarly needless impeding of a Welshman.
South Africa 10-5 Wales, 32 minutes
Is that a 50:22? Not quite! Louis Rees-Zammit spreads his arms wide hopefully, imploring Matt Carley to reward a lovely little threaded number off his left peg, but the original lineout from which his kick eventually came was inside the South African half. Springboks’ lineout.
South Africa 10-5 Wales, 31 minutes
A smart kick from Dan Biggar, spotting the South African backfield spreading to the extremeties so targeting the centre channel of the pitch. The fly-half backs it up with a strong chase, putting enough pressure on Willie Le Roux to force a shallower clearance than the replacement full-back might have hoped for.
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