Springboks vs Ireland
By Karabo Marifi
In a match that kept all 50,066 spectators at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on the edge of their seats, the Springboks emerged victorious with a pulsating and drama-filled 27-20 win against Ireland. This victory places the Boks one-nil up in the Castle Lager Incoming Series, setting the stage for an exciting series.
First Half Dominance and Challenges
The Springboks held a 13-8 lead at halftime, thanks to a blend of impressive play and some unforced errors. Despite not being the smoothest win ever, a seven-point margin against the world’s second-ranked team is commendable. The game started on a high note for the Boks, with a spectacular try in the opening minutes.
Pieter-Steph du Toit’s powerful run on the right flank caught the Irish defense off guard, leading to Jesse Kriel exploiting the space perfectly. Siya Kolisi’s final pass allowed Kurt-Lee Arendse to cut inside two defenders and score. Handre Pollard nailed the conversion, igniting the crowd’s excitement.
However, the Boks faltered immediately after, giving Ireland possession and a chance to attack. A determined Irish assault led to a penalty, but brilliant defense by the Boks thwarted their efforts. A wobbly first scrum followed by a masterful clearance by Cheslin Kolbe moved play to the halfway line, reinforcing the Boks’ defensive resilience.
Sustained Pressure and Fluctuating Fortunes
The Boks capitalised on Irish discipline issues, with Pollard kicking a penalty goal from 35m out, pushing the lead to 13-3. Despite Ireland’s attempts to claw back, a missed penalty by Jack Crowley helped maintain the Boks’ advantage.
A subsequent try by Jamie Osborne for Ireland narrowed the gap to 13-8, but Pollard’s long-range effort missed, leaving the Boks to rue missed opportunities. The second half began with promise, but handling errors hampered Bok momentum.
Kolbe’s Opportunistic Brilliance
The introduction of the “Bomb Squad” brought fresh energy, but handling errors continued to disrupt the flow. A turnover at the breakdown allowed James Lowe a clear run to the try line, but a TMO intervention reprieved the Boks, with Pollard missing another penalty attempt.
The game needed a spark, and it came in the form of Cheslin Kolbe. Exploiting a mistake by Lowe, Kolbe kicked the ball ahead into the in-goal area and won the race to score a try. Pollard’s conversion from near the touchline widened the lead to 20-8.
Late Drama and Resilience
Ireland, showing why they are the world’s second-ranked side, fought back in the final quarter. A yellow card to Kurt-Lee Arendse and a try by Conor Murray narrowed the gap to 20-15. Another mistake by Lowe handed the Boks a penalty try, extending the lead to 27-15.
Replacement flanker Ryan Baird scored for Ireland in the dying minutes, but a spilled pass ended their last-ditch effort. The match concluded with a well-earned victory for the Springboks amidst a night of high drama and thrilling rugby.
Final Scores
Springboks 27 (13)
- Tries: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, Penalty try
- Conversions: Handre Pollard (2)
- Penalty goals: Pollard (2)
Ireland 20 (8)
- Tries: Jamie Osborne, Conor Murray, Ryan Baird
- Conversion: Jack Crowley
- Penalty goal: Crowley
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