Ireland vs. South Africa: Score and Report from Autumn Rugby International

Ireland produced a magnificent display to secure a famous 29-15 victory over South Africa in Dublin. The result was confirmed by the South African Rugby Twitter account:

Tries from Rhys Ruddock and Tommy Bowe plus a 16-point haul from the boot of Jonathan Sexton did the business for the home side, who showcased magnificent fortitude in securing this victory.

South Africa were frustrated for long periods by a ferocious Irish defensive effort, and while they scored a tries through Marcell Coetzee and JP Peterson, this performance didn't possess much of the patented Springbok swagger.

Ahead of this test match, Bok skipper Jean de Villiers admitted that he was expecting a very tough assignment at the Aviva Stadium, per Ashfak Mohamed of iol.co.za:

"

We have prepared well, but it’s about your attitude in the way you approach the game, and your attitude towards the 80 minutes that you play on any given weekend.

We are under no illusions - we won’t underestimate this Irish team because there is no reason why we should. They are the Six Nations champions, they should’ve beaten New Zealand, the number one-ranked team in the world, who also said as much as well.

"

David Rogers/Getty Images

Indeed, De Villiers’ words were given some immediate clout during the first period of this match, as a resolute Irish defence were magnificent against the revered Springbok back line. Roared on by a raucous home crowd, Ireland played with a staggering intensity in the opening stages.

The pressure helped force a couple of early penalties for the home side, which Sexton slotted over to give Ireland a 6-0 lead, per Sky Sports Rugby:

And while the Springboks had the majority of territory for latter stages of the first half, their offensive forays were continually blunted by a robust wall of Irish defenders. South Africa were able to get on the scoreboard prior to the break though, as Handre Pollard slotted a penalty three minutes before the interval to make the score 6-3.

Ruckin Good Stats provided us with an indication of what areas of the pitch the game was being played:

Rugby writer Brendan Nel shared his thoughts on the Springbok’s efforts in the first period:

Given the quality within their ranks, you would have expected South Africa to turn the screw at the start of the second period, but it was the Irish, with a seemingly unwavering intensity, who seized the initiative. A wonderful kick from Robbie Henshaw forced a line-out for the hosts, and a brilliantly worked set-piece saw Ruddock power through the gap; Sexton slotted the conversion to give the Irish a ten-point lead:

South Africa were always going to have a spell in the game though, and at the first sign of Ireland beginning to feel the pace, they capitalised. The Irish were unable to contain some brute power from the South African forwards, and the Springboks maul made their way over the try line, with Marcell Coetzee applying the finishing touches to the move.

Patrick Bolger/Getty Images

But Ireland clung on in there and Sexton struck another fine penalty to give the Irish a six-point buffer at 16-10. And their hopes were given another boost when Adriaan Strauss was given a yellow card. Sensing blood, the Irish pressure grew and they forced another penalty which the unerringly reliable Sexton stuck through the posts to give the hosts a 19-10 lead.

At this stage, the Irish were relishing being a man up, and Bowe sent the Aviva Stadium into raptures when he went over in the corner. Sexton added the two points and the game was up for South Africa with the score at 26-10 with just six minutes remaining.

Things got even better for Sexton when he added another three points to his haul, and although a late consolation try from Peterson salvaged a small bit of pride for the tourists, it little nothing to take the gloss off Ireland's 29-15 victory.

"

Jonny Sexton is beating South Africa by himself. 16 points to their 10. #IRLvSA

— By The River (@ffcbytheriver) November 8, 2014"

Indeed, this was a truly magnificent win for the Irish against a South Africa team that have been in superb form as of late. They were stunning in their defensive efforts in the first period and seized their opportunities with forensic ruthlessness when they arose.

It wasn’t the best of days for the Springboks, but this loss shouldn’t take anything away from the positive strides that have recently been made in the South African set-up. They’re a team that remain one of the finest in the world, and although they came a cropper to this effervescent Irish outfit, the Boks are a team that’ll surely grow as the autumn internationals come thick and fast.