South Africa put a miserable Tri-Nations behind them and ended a three-game losing streak against Ireland by surviving a stirring fightback in a 23-21 win at the host’s barely three-quarters full new Aviva Stadium.
Ireland struggled to sell tickets for their return to the grounds of the old Lansdowne Road after rugby bosses hiked ticket prices and Declan Kidney’s side struggled just as badly for 70 minutes against the injury-hit world champions.
South Africa, almost missing a team full of first XV contenders, dominated in the scrum, lineout and in open play from early on and were looking very comfortable after tries from flanker Juan Smith and fullback Gio Aplon in either half.
Smith added to an early Morne Steyn penalty on 17 minutes when he intercepted a poor Eoin Reddan pass well inside his own half and outpaced retreating Irish defenders to just make it over.
Steyn converted and traded penalties with opposite number Jonathan Sexton before and after halftime and makeshift centre Zane Kirchne put Aplon neatly through for a 23-9 lead after just over an hour of turgid rugby.
However, Ireland brought Ronan O’Gara on for his 100th cap minutes later and the flyhalf brought the game alive, first finding Tommy Bowe with one of his first touches — a pinpoint crossfield kick — to help the Ospreys wing pull one try back.
Jamie Heaslip should have made a second three minutes later but the Irish number eight somehow squandered a three-on-one with the furious pairing of Luke Fitzgerald and captain Brian O’Driscoll either side of him.
Ireland kept pushing and O’Gara was again at the heart of it, chucking a long pass into the path of fullback Rob Kearney to almost cap a remarkable comeback.
O’Gara’s conversion that would have brought the sides level struck the post meaning Ireland must wait for the visit of Samoa next week to find a first win in five. South Africa’s next stop on their November travels is in Wales. – Reuters