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.
3 Penalties missed now by Morne. 9 Points down the drain. Maybe nerves finally from Morne or is it the fog? Those points may cost us dear.
210 – Treehugs. I do too. Miss Fransie in the Bok team huge. Zane doing well but Fransie has that massive boot. If only!!!!!!
208 – Hello Piet, Cheers boet.
Whaaaaat i never saw that
Now i am the moedering, that was not a high tackle
Sexton kicking well. That is the area that is costing us. Kicking at goal. Morne needs to fine those boots and get them over. Otherwise we not going to win this unless we start getting more tries.
215 – Treehugs. It was high but not high enough for a penalty. Daft Italian linesman.
Fark, penalty against Bekker
He was holding onto him not a tackle as such i thought
Oh Help !!
Nou is die toets van die wereld se super kaptein. Hier moet JS sy ware waarde wys of is dit maar net n hype?
Come Skalkie we need another try sunshine
Tyd om ontslae te raak van Morne… NH wys die fraud wat hy is.
Ireland 12 / Bokke 10
We giving away far, far too many penalties. Sexton looks like a better kicker than Morne at the moment in these conditions. We going to lose if we give away more penalties with the good kicker they have.
WE miss FRANSIE. Otherswise we would have brought on Ruan by now. Fransie could have taken the kicks. 9 points we have lost from those missed kicks.
Noo that is not fair not straight at all
Ruan didn’t have problems last year with his kicking in the NH.
221- Super, If we don’t get our kicks over we will never win. Morne not doing it in the fog. Pity Fransie is not there. We just don’t have another kicker. Unless Ruan comes on. Who knows this is maybe where he kicks them over.
Bring on Ruan if Morne is not kicking the kicks over. That is costing us huge here.
Italy won 24 – 6 against Samoa
VanStraaten do you support the Springboks cause you always seem to be criticing them and not suppporting them
COME MY NOONOOS DEFEND DEFEND DEFEND
vanstraaten aka dickhead
Fantastic Defence Boys
Hello Pillie
Ireland now on fire
Hi Treehugs
Tense stuff …..
Kyk Danie is met die skouer geloop nie getackle nie
justice
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