South Africa v Ireland LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result and final score as Irish outmuscle Springboks

World No 1 side Ireland beat defending world champions South Africa in Paris in perhaps the biggest game of the pool stage

Ireland’s Johnny Sexton says son will be ‘over the moon’ after breaking record in World Cup

Ireland underlined their status as the number one team in the world with a bruising 13-8 Rugby World Cup victory over defending champions South Africa in Paris on Saturday, though the Springboks will rue their inaccuracy off the kicking tee.

Ireland scored their only try in the first half through wing Mack Hansen as he found some rare space out wide and led 7-3 at the break but had to withstand a barrage of Springbok pressure in the second half amid a raucous atmosphere.

South Africa’s only try came from winger Cheslin Kolbe but they missed the conversion and three penalty chances to highlight their goal-kicking woes and perhaps hasten the return of experienced fly-half Handre Pollard to the team.

Ireland will be odds-on to win the pool as they claimed a 16th test win in a row, while South Africa suffer defeat in a World Cup game for the first time in nine matches and will likely have to beat Tonga in their final group game on 1 October.

Follow all of the reaction from Stade de France. Plus get the latest Rugby World Cup odds here and tips on Ireland vs South Africa here.

Rugby World Cup 2023: South Africa vs Ireland

• South Africa face Ireland live on ITV1
• Penalty! South Africa 3-0 Ireland (Libbok)
• Try! South Africa 3-7 Ireland (Hansen)
• Half-time: South Africa 3-7 Ireland
• Try! South Africa 8-7 Ireland (Kolbe)
• Penalty! South Africa 8-10 Ireland (Sexton)
• Penalty! South Africa 8-13 Ireland (Crowley)
• Full-time: South Africa 8-13 Ireland

[23 September 2023 20:18 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

15 min: Ireland go so close as Hugo Keenan’s brilliant run is stopped just short of the line and the ball is then dropped. This is a great contest so far, living up to its billing.

Scrum to South Africa inside their own half.

[23 September 2023 20:14 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

12 min: Another shocking lineout by Ireland, with Kelleher again throwing too deep and South Africa steal it. A waste.

[23 September 2023 20:12 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

10 min: Ireland survive the next scrum without losing a penalty, then win a penalty themselves after Etzebeth fails to roll away at the breakdown. Sexton boots the penalty deep into South African territory.

[23 September 2023 20:10 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

7 min: Ireland are already under severe pressure at the set-piece. They are penalised at the scrum and told by referee Ben O’Keeffe that the next one’s a penalty after pushing too early...

[23 September 2023 20:09 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 3-0 Ireland

From our reporter Luke Baker in Paris:

We expected this Test match to be physical but the brutality so far has been incredible. Ronan Kelleher set the tone when he absolutely crunched and dump tackled Damian Willemse after barely 15 seconds of play with a hit that you could fee here up in the Gods at the Stade de France. The Springboks responded in kind though as Garry Ringrose was spectacularly cleared out at the breakdown, having made a great recovery tackle. To win this game, Ireland will need to match South Africa’s notorious physicality and so far, so good.

[23 September 2023 20:09 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Penalty! South Africa 3-0 Ireland (Libbok)

5 min: Ireland are penalised for being off their feet in the ruck, and South Africa do opt to kick, albeit from a more central position. The Springboks lead.

[23 September 2023 20:05 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 0-0 Ireland

3 min: Ireland lose the lineout and that immediately feels like a major error not to kick the penalty. Now South Africa are on the attack with ball in hand...

[23 September 2023 20:04 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 0-0 Ireland

2 min: Ireland earn a quick penalty after Kitshoff was caught not rolling away. They could get some points on the board but they go for the corner...

[23 September 2023 20:03 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa 0-0 Ireland

1 min: Sexton kicks long and Kelleher sets the tone with a huge first tackle! Bang.

[23 September 2023 19:58 · Lawrence Ostlere]

South Africa vs Ireland LIVE – Rugby World Cup

Ireland’s Call is belted out by the Irish players and the majority of the Stade de France – spine-tingling. South Africa are not quite so well supported tonight but there are plenty of flags and Springbok jerseys in the crowd.

Here we go then. Ireland are wearing green, incidentally, and South Africa are in white.

South Africa line up for the national anthems (Reuters)