Ireland took on the Springboks at Croke Park, Dublin today. Ireland won 15 / 10.
It is with mixed emotions that I make this match summary…
Let’s start at the beginning. It was a pleasure, no an absolute pleasure, seeing the Springbok scrum going forward… the first 3 scrums must have scared the Irish silly and then came the fourth scrum and the Bokke pulverised the Irish even more, leading to a well worked move left and Schalk Burger, the old war horse barging his way over the try line for the only try of the match.
Morné Steyn converted the try and at this stage the Sringboks were leading 7 / 3.
The Springbok forwards continued their onslaught and set up a golden opportunity for Morné Steyn to slot a drop goal, which he duly did… Bokke 10 / 3!
The Irish began to find their feet though, with excellent line-out steals against the Springboks and with sublime cleaning of the ball, over the player on the ground. They defended well and it became difficult for the Springboks to get over the halfway line.
Morné Steyn missed two long range penalties, one dropping under the crossbar and one dropping both under and against the upright.
Jonathan Sexton put a penalty over and suddenly it was Ireland 6 / Bokke 10, there was just a four point margin, this was also the half time score.
After half time the Irish came out fired up, forced mistakes from the Springboks and they conceded penalty after penalty within kicking range, with Sexton slotting them time and again, making it 9 / 10, then 12 / 10 and lastly 15 / 10 for Ireland.
Eventually Morné Steyn was replaced by Ruan Pienaar, who did no better than Morné, having a kick charged down and missing a penalty attempt.
Jean de Villiers replaced Wynand Olivier who had a top game, specially on defence. There was a bit more to the running game with Jean on, but to no avail and at a time when only a try would have won them the game.
Sexton then missed 2 penalties as well….
BJ Botha was replaced in the game, why I’m not sure, but John Smit moved to tight head and Bismarck du Plessis slotted in at hooker. Andries Bekker was replaced as well, with Danie Rossouw moving into the lock position and Dewalt Potgieter earning his first cap.
During the last 8 minutes, the Bokke threw everything at the Irish who defended and defended and kept the Bokke out.
Go rest now Bokke, fix those weary bodies, next year is another big year!
Points:
Ireland: 5 Penalties Jonathan Sexton
Springboks: 1 Conversion & 1 Drop Goal Morné Steyn, 1 Try Schalk Burger
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (captain), 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
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Sean O’Brien, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Gordon D’Arcy
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Andries Bekker, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Jean Deysel, 19 Dewald Potgieter, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Jean de Villiers.
Date: Saturday, 28 November 2009
Time: 16:30 SA Time (14:30 GMT)
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin
Expected weather conditions: There 20 percent chance of rain, with a high of 6°C which is 0°C with the windchill factor, getting colder, and a wind from the north of 28 km/h, freshening to 36 km/h
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Chris White (England), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
TMO: Hugh Watkins (Wales)
See the changes to the Springboks lineup with the late withdrawal of Bakkies Botha. Andries Bekker now wears the No 4 jersey and Francois Hougaard comes in on the bench.
8 minutes to go…
Bokke gaan darem nie le nie , keep going boys , 10 awesome minutes, please
Puma, you must be glad the ref missed JP’s bloody nose tackle!! 😉
come on stop wasteing time and lets go score
BOKKE BOKKE BOKKE
sa skop hulle bal besit weg die hele tyd
I wonder if there is another kicker in the history of the game who’ve hit the posts as much as Ruan Pienaar?
There we go again kicking the bloody ball away.
If we got all our penalties we would have 12 points and that = 22 we should have had on the board.
Just can not miss your kicks at goal. It will always lose us the game.
~as many times as Pienaar…
i havent a clue what happend there,thought we won the turnover
276 – NONE.
In this game we just don’t have a kicker and that is why we will lose. Missed 4 penalties. NOT good enough at this level.
The Boks need a miracle now!!
Ons ouens is moeg. Jammer om te sê, maar MS het ‘n baie kak game gehad.
They should’ve chosen Joen Pietersen for this EOYT, he would’ve given an extra kicking option which is important.
Brussow you beauty
277 – Puma – BRING BACK PERCY!!!!!
ok that ripped shirt was funny
273 – Carol, This is one of the most useless refs. We all knew that. Him with Honiss and Bryce from NZ. Those are the worst refs. Forgot Barnes caps it. He is the worst of all 😆 Should have the best refs there but that is not possible they are all South African. Top 4 refs in the world all Saffas 😀
Scotland blew their game, too 6-9
come now try time Bokkies
Martin Lawrence only good SAFFER ref, the rest are shite.
Matfield lyk verslane
285 – Carol he could kick well. We miss Fransie huge. Zane played well but can not kick. Fransie and that big boot? Well you never know. Morne was not that good today and Ruan is just not up to it either.
We also not used to playing in FOG. We play in the sun here.
290 VanStratten – Lawrence is quite ‘decorative’ too!! 😉
288 – Super, Damn knew I should have gone with ARG on my SuperBru. Scots were lucky last week. Gits off form.
Us today are rubbish. Nothing more to say we just kick all our ball away and don’t have a goal kicker will always cost us. PdV will have to be on the look out again for a FH.
@293 – Decorative? Sorry I don’t follow you…
The Irish have played as if there lives depended on it, must give credit, can barely see.
Carol lol i agree
Kicking at goal cost us this game. Huge pity. We should have had 12 more points. 22 but sad that is not to be.
We also just keep kicking all the ball away. Played into their hands I think.
Well done to Ireland.
COME MY LUVVVIES YOU CAN DO IT
fuk
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