South Africa v Ireland LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Springboks survive crazy finish to win first Test
South Africa 27-20 Ireland: The Springboks secured their first win over the Six Nations winners in eight years at Loftus Versfeld
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Your support makes all the difference.South Africa emerged on top from a crazy contest against Ireland in Pretoria as the World Cup winners marked their homecoming with victory in the first Test of a potentially thrilling series.
The Springboks secured their first win over Ireland in eight years at Loftus Versfeld, with their bench impactful in a contest punctuated by a serious injury to Ireland scrum half Craig Casey. After a long delay, Cheslin Kolbe pounced on a James Lowe error to put the hosts in control, with a late shove-over scrum score engineered by South Africa’s Bomb Squad sealing the win despite a late Irish rally.
Lowe had earlier been denied by a tight call from the television match official having seemingly put Ireland in front in the second half. Ireland, however, were deemed to have infringed at the breakdown prior to Lowe’s canter up the left touchline, with referee Luke Pearce chalking the score off.
It means Andy Farrell’s side will head to Durban next week down 1-0 in the two-Test series and hoping to hit back after an encounter that delivered on the spite and spice anticipated as two familiar foes re-ignited their rivalry.
Re-live all of the action rom South Africa vs Ireland below:
Can Joe McCarthy build on impressive Six Nations?
Though Jack Crowley looks a fly half to build around, perhaps Ireland’s find of the Six Nations was Joe McCarthy, a tighthead lock who showed he could mix it with the big boys in the opener against France in Marseille particularly. This, though, will offer another yardstick in his development - Eben Etzebeth remains probably the premier lock in the world and, given his comments in the build-up, seems properly up for it.
Huge test for Jamie Osborne
It will be a huge challenge that Jamie Osborne will be posed today against a side that kick well tactically. It’s worth remembering that the Leinster man did not make a single start at full-back all season domestically, excelling instead in the centres with Garry Ringrose and Charlie Ngatai enduring injury-hit campaigns. There is no doubting his talent, and Andy Farrell clearly backs him, but replacing all that Hugo Keenan offers is an unenviable task.
South Africa opt for experience as Siya Kolisi returns for first Ireland clash
It’s been a funny few months for Siya Kolisi. The flanker’s place as one of rugby’s greatest leaders is not in doubt, but Racing 92 didn’t necessarily feel they got best value out of the first year of Kolisi’s lucrative contract in Paris, with thinly-veiled comments suggesting that the club felt Kolisi was perhaps carrying a little too much weight and overly-focussed on efforts off the field rather than on it.
Even Rassie Erasmus hinted that he would consider a switch of Springboks skipper earlier this year given his preference for a captain based domestically, which meant there was more intrigue than usual when the South Africa series for this squad was confirmed. As it happens, Erasmus ultimately decided to stick with Kolisi, giving strong backing to the openside flanker and firing a furious shot back at Racing for what he felt were unfair comments about his long-time leader.
South Africa opt for experience as Siya Kolisi returns for first Ireland clash
Rassie Erasmus names 12 of the 15 starters from last year’s Rugby World Cup final for the first Test in Pretoria
Wales’ losing run continues against Wallabies
Over the Tasman, meanwhile Wales’ long run of defeats continued despite a battling performance in Sydney as they were beaten 25-16 by Australia.
It was their 12th successive loss to the Wallabies in Australia, and eighth on the bounce against all opponents.
Wales’ losing run continues, but there were promising signs against Australia
It was their 12th successive loss to the Wallabies in Australia.
England suffer agonising defeat as All Blacks snatch victory in first Test
Before we get going with this afternoon’s live action in earnest, here’s a reminder of events in Dunedin a little earlier, with an impressive England ultimately falling short as the All Blacks snatched first Test victory:
England suffer agonising defeat as All Blacks snatch victory in first Test
New Zealand 16-15 England: Two penalties from Damian McKenzie sunk England as the All Blacks fought back to win Scott Robertson’s first game in charge
It means nothing – Mike Catt not interested in South Africa comments on Ireland
Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt dismissed the significance of potentially provocative comments from the South Africa camp ahead of the series.
Springboks trio Eben Etzebeth, Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe are among those to have stoked the flames of a growing rivalry between the world’s two top-ranked sides since last year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
“People can say what they want. It means nothing to us. It’s something we don’t particularly worry about,” South Africa-born attack coach Catt told reporters.
It means nothing – Mike Catt not interested in South Africa comments on Ireland
The Springboks camp have accused the Irish of being “arrogant”.
Peter O’Mahony backs Jamie Osborne to shine on debut
Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony feels it was only a matter of time before Jamie Osborne was handed his senior debut, which will come in the first Test against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday.
With Hugo Keenan preparing for the Olympic Sevens in Paris later this month, there had been an an expectation Jimmy O’Brien would be slotted into the side at full-back.
Head coach Andy Farrell, though, instead made something of a surprise selection with Osborne, who primarily plays at centre, drafted in.
The Leinster 22-year-old may have started at full-back only twice for his province, but O’Mahony has every confidence Osborne can rise to the challenge against the world champions at Loftus Versfeld.
“He has been very patient. The kid is pretty understanding and obviously has delivered incredibly well for Leinster over the last however many seasons,” O’Mahony said at a press conference.
“One of the lads presented him with his (Ireland) jersey last night and he said it was not as if it was when the cap was going to come for him.
“He is one of these guys who is just really cool, calm, who wants to learn.
“He is a top-class professional at an early age, so you (media) said people were shocked, but I don’t think anyone in our squad was shocked about it.”
Team news - Ireland
Andy Farrell hands a debut to Leinster’s Jamie Osborne at full-back in the absence of club colleague Hugo Keenan, who has joined up with the Ireland Sevens squad ahead of an Olympic medal bid in Paris. Scrum half Jamison Gibson-Park, meanwhile, is a major injury absentee, so Craig Casey gets the nod ahead of Conor Murray. A settled side elsewhere sees Jack Crowley continue at fly half after a solid Six Nations.
Ireland XV: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Peter O’Mahony (capt.), 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris; 9 Craig Casey, 10 Jack Crowley; 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Calvin Nash; 15 Jamie Osborne.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kellher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Ryan Baird; 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Garry Ringrose.
Team news - South Africa
With the Springboks’ European-based players back available, Rassie Erasmus returns Siya Kolisi and Handre Pollard to a starting South African side that includes 12 of the 15 starters from the World Cup final. Ox Nche, Kwagga Smith and Willie le Roux each came off the bench in Paris and are promoted. Gerhard Steenekamp is a new face among the six forwards on the bench — the loosehead enjoyed a strong season for the Bulls and is set for an international debut on familiar turf.
South Africa XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Frans Malherbe; 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Franco Mostert; 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Kwagga Smith; 9 Faf de Klerk, 10 Handre Pollard; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Cheslin Kolbe; 15 Willie le Roux.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden; 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
South Africa vs Ireland
Odds
South Africa win 7/15
Draw 24/1
Ireland win 12/5
Prediction
South Africa 20-17 Ireland
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