Ireland 15 Springboks 10
Keo.co.za brought you live commentary from the Boks’ last European Tour Test at Croke Park.
80 mins: The Boks attempt a set-piece move towards the left side of the field, but Ireland hold on. After three phases, Rossouw is penalised for an illegal clearance at the ruck, handing Ireland a hard-fought victory. Ireland win 15-10!
79 mins: With two minutes left, O’Learly kicks possession away and gives the Boks another opportunity. The visitors run the ball into Ireland’s 22 and find themselves 5m from the try line. Ireland, however, defend strongly and the Boks are awarded a scrum.
78 mins: The Boks spend a good period in the Irish half, but they fail to put an effective attack together. With two minutes left, Jean de Villiers is pushed into touch. That could prove to be the Boks’ last opportunity to steal victory.
68 mins: Pienaar gets his first opportunity at goal, but his kick hits the post.
66 mins: Sexton kicks Ireland into a five-point lead with his fifth penalty of the game. 15-10 to Ireland!
64 mins: Peter de Villiers has decided to run the changes. He brings on four fresh players within two minutes, which sees Ruan Pienaar at pivot and Bismarck du Plessis at hooker and John Smit moved to tighthead.
60 mins: The Boks’ ill-discipline is preventing them from building momentum and allowing Ireland to play most of the match in their half.
50 mins: The touch judge calls for a penalty, saying he spotted Andries Bekker dropping his knee on a Irish player at the ruck. Sexton then kicks Ireland into the lead. 12-10 to Ireland!
48 mins: Steyn is penalised for a high tackle on O’Driscoll. This allows Sexton to kick over his third penalty. 10-9 to the Boks!
44 mins: The Boks’ dominance at the scrums continues as they are awarded an early penalty after the break, but Steyn uncharacteristically misses his third successive kick. Only four points ahead, this could prove costly.
Half-time: Ireland 6 Springboks 10
39 mins: Ireland are penalised again, this time 60m from the posts. Steyn attempts another ambitious kick, but fails to reach his target again. O’Leary clears the ball and Owens blows for half-time.
38 mins: Du Preez is pushed off the ball by O’Driscoll while the two players try to claim an up and under, which gives Steyn a chance to convert a long-range three-pointer. The Bok flyhalf’s attempt, however, misses the target by inches as the ball falls short.
29 mins: Brussow makes a good steal, but Owens penalises the flank, saying he was in an offside position. Sexton reduces the deficit to four points, with another fine strike. 10-6 to the Boks!
24 mins: Boks build momentum and find themselves back inside Ireland’s half. From a breakdown at the 22, Steyn slots his second drop goal attempt. 10-3 to the Boks!
21 mins: Outstanding defence from the Boks keep Ireland out after several attempts from 5m out, but the home side is penalised for holding on. A big turning point in the game as Boks look fired up after their strong defensive efforts.
19 mins: A trademark Brian O’Driscoll break creates a try-scoring opportunity for the home side. Ireland work themselves 5m out from the try line, but a strong defence from the visitors restricts Ireland from crossing the chalk, which results in a Irish scrum.
16 mins: Springbok try! Ireland are penalised after being driven back in the scrum in a kickable position, but Fourie du Preez opts for a quick tap. The scrumhalf almost makes the hash of things, but the Boks keep momentum. After the third breakdown, the ball is passed wide and Jaque Fourie puts Schalk Burger through the gap for the opening try. Steyn converts for the extras. 7-3 to the Boks!
14 mins: After four scrums, Boks have the clear upper hand.
8 mins: Ireland have the first opportunity to score points as the Boks are penalised at the breakdown in a kickable position. Pivot Jonathan Sexton successfully kicks his first attempt over from 45m out. 3-0 to Ireland!
4 mins: An early bust up between Heinrich Brussow and Rob Kearney makes it clear that this is a passionate clash. Referee Nigel Owens, however, forces his hand, saying he will not tolerate any further action off the ball.
2 mins: Ireland run the ball from the lineout, but good defence from the Boks forces the home side to lose the ball forward. This sets up a promising counter attack and Steyn attempts an early drop goal, but the kick is pulled wide.
1 min: Morne Steyn kicks off and Ireland claim possession. No 9 Tomas O’Leary clears from the base, but John Smit charged down the kick and the ball goes into touch.
Ireland – 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (c), 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Tomas O’Leary, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O’Connell, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Cian Healy.
Subs: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Sean O’Brien, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Gordon D’Arcy.
Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Andries Bekker, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Jean Deysel, 19 Dewald Potgieter, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Jean de Villiers, 22 Francios Hougaard.
November 28th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
What is Burger thinking.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
about time thats better. Now just keep running at them and we take this game easy in our stride. Kick it up in the air and give them the momentum back.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
And Burger drops the ball.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
TAFFYIX you must be a shark …. uninformed supporter. Maku !!!!!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Schalkie you legend! Brilliant
November 28th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
@Xhosaskid: 54
Whatever mate…
Lets just enjoy the game
November 28th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Desperate defence – keep them out PLEASE!!!!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Geez, Nigel, when two players are shielding the runner from tacklers, that’s obstruction
November 28th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Our scrum is dominating! John Smit you legend. XhosaKid get off the drugs
November 28th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Okay!!!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Phew! relief
November 28th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Brilliant defence from the Boks.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Haha, temp seems to be rising!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Drop goal Morne Steyn SA 10 Ireland 3 23 minutes
November 28th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
SA 10 – IRE 3 after 23
November 28th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
drop! 10-3 yes!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Morne Steyn you beauty!!!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Geez, you guys are fast!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Steyn has put in two huge tackles.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
lol Habana must keep the moustache
November 28th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
@BlouBokkie: 70
Hell no!!! lol
November 28th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
SA 10 – IRE 6 after 29
November 28th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
10-6
November 28th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
damn Ireland 6 SA 10 @29 minutes
November 28th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Brussow off his feet.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
@TaffyIX: Yes! Don’t you think it makes him look erm….distinguished?
November 28th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Burger looking much beter today IMO.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
lol BBC commentator just called Habana Obama…
November 28th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
@BlouBokkie:
sort of! haha
November 28th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
50/50 calls are going against us right now. Referee needs to show fairness here.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Nice steal Schalk!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Brilliant tackling Bokke!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Nice objectivity from the ref here.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
hmmmm. Bowe tackled Fourie without the ball!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
If we can get our lineouts going then we’ll win convincingly.
BoD is an idiot for that one and at least the ref saw that one.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Brian O’Driscoll very naughty.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Has anyone got a picture yet. The vanilla project does not exist according to my ISP.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
@AiDoc: It’s streaming
November 28th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I’ll say this early – these IRB f@#%*ng refs are on the take – that’s the only explanation for this pathetic screeching excuse of a welshman – **** this game and the IRB!!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
can you guys please post a link?
November 28th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
@sglazer: would you mind sharing a link?
November 28th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Jaque Fourie having a great game. World class. WO decent on defense.
Scrum is dominating
November 28th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
justin . tv forward slash projectvanilla
It’s a bit sticky though [!]
November 28th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
@sglazer: thanks a lot! I’ll give it a try.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
@AiDoc:
I’ve got it no problem.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
@Sports_Fan: Ed the Lion has put one on Rugby Talk..something about Justin TV project vanilla!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Keep it tight and slow boys! No stupid subs please!
Curse Smal for out lineout woes:)
November 28th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Suprisingly WO has done rather well, but I would like to see Jean there.
Either way, they’re both better than Jacobs.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Ireland are strong on the counter attack. Signs of a long season for SA.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Transformation
I hope you can see how MUCH we miss Frans Steyn right now. He would have kicked both over. I like Kirchner but Frans is miles ahead when it comes to BMT to any other fullback in SA.