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 5:37 pm
@savethespringbok:
Miles ahead, except for perhaps Terblanche?
November 28th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Morne Steyn not our answer at fly half. This kick and chase game going to sink us. If we were running this game wide all day long we’d be way ahead by now. This up and under **** is going to kill springbok rugby. M. Steyn not the answer to our back line stagnancy he’s the cause of it, and Fdp not much better. Get some proper running distributing half backs into this side. Fdp and Steyn busy killing our back line game. Kick and chase is not rugby. Carry on with this rubbish and prepare to lose.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Did anyone see the knock from the fullback just before BOD played Fourie without the ball?
Getting good feed from myp2p.eu
November 28th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
@TaffyIX: when has Terreblanche won anything for the Sharks, especially under pressure… the only thing he is miles ahead of Steyn is age
November 28th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
We must thank Ireland for the metres gained from their woeful handling.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
hahahaha, WHAT A SCRUM!!!!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Morne what’s up bru!?
November 28th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
irish commentator: “blood substitution cj van der lind for beast xxxx???”
November 28th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
who else can kick…..what the hell morne steyn?
November 28th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
thats a bullshit call for a high tackle…
November 28th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
What the f*ck?
November 28th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
SA 10 – IRE 9 after 47
November 28th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
that was NOT high!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Contrary to what the Irish commentators are saying, that was NOT high
November 28th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
never high! what the hell??
November 28th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
now we are going to play against the ref and begin to think about 3 attempts missed. Ireland tails up, do I hate their commentators though……….
November 28th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Are you guys blind, that was a high tackle, anything around the neck
November 28th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Steyn costing us a game. Commentator “steyn deserved that…..”
November 28th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
we’re simply not playing well enough to win this game
November 28th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I saw that one but it wasn’t that bad. He dropped him? from where?
November 28th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
bekker taking on bakkies enforcing role there…
November 28th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
SA 10 – IRE 12 after 51
November 28th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
BO***CKS!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Before we start blaming the officials…..
I still believe that we are good enough to win this.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Jaque Fourie losing the ball in the tackle
November 28th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Boks discipline are letting them down
November 28th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
morne steyn having a huge defensive game…so much for him costing us the match…
November 28th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Did anyone esle see that obstruction on the side of the ruck? What the f*ck is going on here. The linesmen have spotted everything and missed that one.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Mmm Bokke looking a little tired. Still thinking we can win this. Ref is having a good game I think.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Stupid Danie Rossouw
November 28th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I would not have taken off Steyn. And neither BJ.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
There’s no way our Boks want to win this – we look like we’re making up time…Ireland look hungry – why is this always the case – other teams always look hungrier than us WTF!!!!!
November 28th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
I know what we should do. Why don’t we kick some more up-and-unders.
I mean … it’s been working so well this far
November 28th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Hope we dont need to kick for goal, Ruan is on at 10. fok, please prove me wrong bud
November 28th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Nigel Owens having a better game than his fellow officials.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
WE’ve got to STOP kicking the ball away – GAD DAMMIT!
November 28th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
YES!!! welcome back Jean!
November 28th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Why the **** did stupid helium bring Bismark on?
WTF! penalties, missed throw ins, weaker scrum.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
we’re croaked – we suck today!
November 28th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Our scrums considerably weaker.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
See … we should kick more…
F*ck….
November 28th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Well done Ruan. Stupid twat
November 28th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Time to mute the Irish commentators [s]
November 28th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Game over – f**king done man, these guys should have their pay docked for this tour – they have no interest in winning, I mean, this is Ireland – teaching us a lesson…
November 28th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
It was in his possesion!! What the f*ck ref!!
November 28th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
SA 10 – IRE 15 after 65
November 28th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
You guys are way over the top with your comments. Were either brilliant or terrible. How about some nuance.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
This is hard to watch. I get a minute every now and then and it looks like the S14 final in Christchurch.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Have faith b0ys.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
how biased and ridiculous can commentators be!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“SA boring us to death with kicking for 63 minutes….”
we are playing NO rugby but that was not necessary, who the hell do they think they are???? irish asshholes