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.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 28th, 2009 at 6:19 pm and is filed under Live Reports, Springboks, Year End Tour. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

151. allamapstieks Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

@Sports_Fan: Your comments are disrespectful to rugby and Ireland.

Grow up.

152. AiDoc Reply to this comment

@Sports_Fan:

They’re tired.

153. fish out of water Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:12 pm

the bumbling boks are rather embarrassing.

where does the problem lie, with the players or the coaches?

154. Sports_Fan Reply to this comment

@AiDoc: yeah I know, I just hate seeing us lose!

155. Sports_Fan Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:13 pm

@allamapstieks: listen chump, go to Ireland if you want to support them…

156. allamapstieks Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

Pienaar misses a tackle, Pietersen tackles well again.

157. Sports_Fan Reply to this comment

@savethespringbok: yeah, I muted them a long time ago – I thought the Aussie commentators were bad, but these guys are right up there.

158. TaffyIX Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:15 pm

Oi! Try to enjoy the rugby guys!

Boks are still in this ffs!

159. Sports_Fan Reply to this comment

@fish out of water: I think they’re tired…who knows!

160. allamapstieks Reply to this comment

@Sports_Fan: It’s got nothing to do with who I support, its got to do with decency. We don’t need nobheads for fans.

161. Ezee-23 Reply to this comment

@AiDoc: Agreed.

162. allamapstieks Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:16 pm

@Sports_Fan: How old are you boetman?

163. Charlie Reply to this comment

As much tackles Morne Steyn made he also missed a few as well

164. allamapstieks Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

We could still win this. Need to settle the nerves.

165. sglazer Reply to this comment

We need a breakaway try and good-night nurse

166. Ezee-23 Reply to this comment

@fish out of water: During the game? Why are you here. F*ck off buddy!

167. Sports_Fan Reply to this comment

@allamapstieks: with a name like yours maybe you should answer that very question – lightweight!

168. siener Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

I thought that the kicks would stop when Pienaar came on, but he’s just as bad as Steyn.

WTF!!???!?

169. allamapstieks Reply to this comment

Bismarck steals it.

170. allamapstieks Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:19 pm

And then we hold on to it.

171. AiDoc Reply to this comment

The trick to beating Ireland is to wear black. IT BRINGS BACK THE CHILD HOOD MEMories of nuns and other bu g gers.

172. allamapstieks Reply to this comment

Looks like 3 losses in a row to Ireland in Ireland.

173. Charlie Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:20 pm

Who to blame now, the senior players ?

174. allamapstieks Reply to this comment

Were still in it.

175. Ezee-23 Reply to this comment

He said “hands off” and they kept them there but then he goes and blows against us. 50/50 calls were against us all game and thats what I’m basing this supposed loss on.

176. Jiggie Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:21 pm

Calm down guys. It is an end of year tour. See it for what it is. Indiscipline is costing us.

177. Charlie Reply to this comment

It aint over yet

178. sglazer Reply to this comment

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November 28th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

We need a global season. NH sends tired teams to the South at the end of their season and vice-versa.

179. kwas

Boks completely outplayed today thanks to Div’s 1-dimensional kicking game. Possession kicked away at every opportunity.

180. Slai

@AiDoc: Thats a disgusting and inappropriate comment for a rugby board