Alright, here we go: it’s the final game of Irish interest in what has started to feel like an interminable rugby season, but it also doesn’t get much more exciting.
South Africa v Ireland II is a brilliant way to bow out — until the Sevens at the Olympics, anyway — and I’ll bring you live updates from Durban where either Handre Pollard or Jack Crowley will get us underway at 4pm Irish time.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here, by the way, and if you’re not at Kings Park in Durban or you can’t make a TV, flick on the ‘important events’ notifications at the top of this liveblogs and I’ll send you notifications of tries, a half-time score, and a full-time score in Durban.
Let’s get this show on the road…
What are the vibes like where you are? Is there a sense that Ireland can set the record straight after last Saturday’s 27-20 defeat at Loftus Versfeld or will Rassie’s back-to-back Boks repeat the trick against Andy Farrell’s men?
Poll Results:
Erasmus named an entirely unchanged 23 for this second test, which felt like a bit of a flex considering the toll last Saturday’s game took on Ireland.
For Andy Farrell’s men, Caelan Doris will have to try to keep on the right side of referee Karl Dickson as he replaces the benched Peter O’Mahony as captain.
Garry Ringrose partners Robbie Henshaw in midfield with Bundee Aki — seemingly injured towards the end of the first test — not involved. Aki seems relatively fine based on this tweet by my colleague Murray Kinsella at the ground but it’s Big Stu McCloskey who offers backup on this occasion.
Bundee Aki all good to do the warm up with Ireland. pic.twitter.com/dBrXcIQxyT
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) July 13, 2024
Conor Murray is in for the injured Craig Casey, with Caolin Blade the replacement scrum-half.
Rónan Kelleher deputises for Dan Sheehan, who suffered an ACL injury last week. Rob Herring to the bench.
With O’Mahony on the bench, Tadhg Beirne shifts to blindside and James Ryan partners Joe McCarthy in the second row.
South Africa
- 15. Willie le Roux
- 14. Cheslin Kolbe
- 13. Jesse Kriel
- 12. Damian de Allende
- 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse
- 10. Handré Pollard
- 9. Faf de Klerk
- 1. Ox Nché
- 2. Bongi Mbonambi
- 3. Frans Malherbe
- 4. Eben Etzebeth
- 5. Franco Mostert
- 6. Siya Kolisi (captain)
- 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
- 8. Kwagga Smith
Replacements:
- 16. Malcolm Marx
- 17. Gerhard Steenekamp
- 18. Vincent Koch
- 19. Salmaan Moerat
- 20. RG Snyman
- 21. Marco van Staden
- 22. Grant Williams
- 23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Ireland
- 15. Jamie Osborne
- 14. Calvin Nash
- 13. Garry Ringrose
- 12. Robbie Henshaw
- 11. James Lowe
- 10. Jack Crowley
- 9. Conor Murray
- 1. Andrew Porter
- 2. Rónan Kelleher
- 3. Tadhg Furlong
- 4. Joe McCarthy
- 5. James Ryan
- 6. Tadhg Beirne
- 7. Josh van der Flier
- 8. Caelan Doris (captain)
Replacements:
- 16. Rob Herring
- 17. Cian Healy
- 18. Finlay Bealham
- 19. Ryan Baird
- 20. Peter O’Mahony
- 21. Caolin Blade
- 22. Ciarén Frawley
- 23. Stuart McCloskey
We’re a great bunch at the same time, aren’t we?
little chorus on Fields of Athenry outside the stadium 5 mins ago pic.twitter.com/1WCTRlTSSc
— Noah Scolard (@noahscolard) July 13, 2024
Fun times.
Ireland are on the field. The Impi Warriors are on their way out ahead of the Boks.
The Shark Tank is hopping.
It’s almost time!
1′ – SA 0-0 IRE: Jack Crowley gets us started at Kings Park Stadium! South Africa again in white. Ireland in green. Karl Dickson in the middle.
Here we go!
2′ – SA 0-0 IRE: Already a more intense start than last Saturday, honestly. Some of the collisions — strong Irish carries and equally impactful Bok hits — have been blood-curdling.
Garry Ringrose eventually chips into space down the left edge and Handre Pollard clears to touch between the South African 22′ and 10-metre line.
First lineout for Rónan Kelleher and Ireland.
3′ – SA 0-0 IRE: It doesn’t quite go to script but Ireland win it. Eben Etzebeth goes for an intercept on Conor Murray but he spills it forward.
So now, a first scrum for Ireland just outside the South African 10′.
Some crazed Bok defence so far.
5′ – SA 0-0 IRE: Ireland win a penalty as Etzebeth is pinged for offside.
Remarkable linespeed from the South Africans so far — but that was actually too remarkable.
Ireland are slinging the ball under severe pressure.
Crowley will kick for three, easy chance.
6′ – SA 0-3 IRE: Crowley, who missed three of his five kicks last week, goes one for one.
Chip shot, easy does it. Ireland lead.
11′ – SA 0-3 IRE: Ireland repel the Boks’ first sustained attack as Pollard’s chip lands in the bread basket of Calvin Nash, who calls a mark.
Good defensive set by Ireland.
Jamie Osborne bangs a kick into touch in the South African half.
14′ – SA 0-10 IRE: WHAT A TRY FOR IRELAND! CONOR MURRAY!
Moments after their first real attack broke down, back come Farrell’s side into South African territory.
Jack Crowley takes the ball to the line and feeds Osborne inside. The fullback takes contact and pops it out to Robbie Henshaw. Back inside to Murray. Under the sticks!
What a gorgeous score, and Ireland lead by 10 with Crowley’s chip-over conversion!
18′ – SA 3-10 IRE: Ox Nche gets the surge up on the loosehead side and South Africa win a scrum pen.
Pollard does the rest from the Irish 10′. Boks on the board.
23′ – SA 3-10 IRE: This is some test match, boys ands girls.
Lowe and Nash making inroads up either wing as Ireland string together a fine attack. It eventually breaks down as Beirne spills a bullet of a pass in contact, only the second handling error by Ireland so far.
The Boks are still absolutely thundering into them but Ireland have arguably posed more questions in the first 23 minutes of this game than they did in the whole first half last week.
30′ – SA 3-10 IRE: Try-saver by Jamie Osborne on Kwagga Smith after Jack Crowley was isolated and charged down under serious pressure.
The fullback has been brilliant so far.
Ireland are forced to withstand another Bok assault when Lowe kicks one out on the full after it was taken back into the 22′, but they eventually force a South African knock-on and clear.
Under the cosh here, though, for the first time.
32′ – SA 3-10 IRE: South Africa win a pen inside the Irish 22′ and go to the corner. Big chance for the hosts.
33′ – SA 3-10 IRE: Ireland sack the South African maul and Big Joe McCarthy, somehow, steals the ball!
What an intervention by the Leinster lock.
34′ – SA 3-10 IRE: Furlong is pinged again in the scrum and South Africa get another chance deep inside Irish territory.
That’s three scrum pens for the Boks, two of them won by Nche off Furlong.
They opt to take their points on this occasion after a long, sustained spell of pressure.
36′ – SA 6-10 IRE: Pollard dinks one over and the gap is down to four. South Africa have been on top for the last 10 minutes or so and Ireland have done well to concede only three points in that spell.
37′ – SA 6-10 IRE: Excellent up-and-under by Crowley and South Africa are pinged for obstruction as Henshaw gives chase and gets entangled. Chance at three for Ireland, straight in front of the posts and just outside the Bok 22′.
38′ – SA 6-13 IRE: Crowley slots it. Three points of his own creation, really. Ireland by seven as we approach the break.
This first half has taken almost an hour!
39′ – SA 6-13 IRE: Murray allows Pollard’s restart to trickle into Ireland’s in-goal and touches down. That’s a scrum back! Excellent awareness of the rules by Murray, who throws a wink to the touch judge for good measure!
40′ – SA 6-13 IRE: Ireland attack left off the scrum and Low chips down the left edge. He gives chase and tackles the South African receiver over his own line.
Five-metre scrum for Ireland on the precipice of half-time! What a chance.
42′ – SA 6-13 IRE: Huge carry by Doris off the back of the scrum but what a tackle by Pieter-Steph! Ireland bang away at the South African line and win a pen advantage for offside, but Henshaw eventually spills forward as he loses his footing at the crucial moment.
That’s a sickener — but Ireland will at least get three points out of it.
Hey, three points off a South African restart moments earlier isn’t a bad return, either.
43′ – SA 6-16 IRE: Crowley goes four for four with another simple kick and Ireland take a 10-point lead in at the break.
They’ve been much improved from last week, both in terms of their intensity and their attacking shape.
The Boks had a solid 10-minute spell around the half-hour mark but Ireland have otherwise been the better side so far in Durban.
What a massive second half we have in store. South Africa are going to come out like men possessed — can Ireland sustain this effort?
Catch you in 15.
41′ – SA 6-16 IRE: Handre Pollard gets the second half going in Durban.
What a 40 minutes we have ahead of us.
43′ – SA 6-16 IRE: Kurt-Lee Arendse finds a hole in the Irish defence and he’s away! Arendse deep inside the Irish 22′ where he’s taken down by Osborne.
Boks swing right and Doris makes a try-saver on the edge.
Eventually, Faf de Klerk tries a chip through and Osborne gathers it with ease. Wow, unbelievable scramble defence by Ireland.
44′ – SA 6-16 IRE: Henshaw goes for a poach inside the Irish half but he’s pinged for having his hands on the ground first.
Pollard will kick for three from about 35 metres, right of centre.
James Ryan has already stolen two South African lineouts since half-time — Ireland’s first couple of steals of the game.
45′ – SA 9-16 IRE: Pollard nails his kick.
Finlay Bealham is on for Furlong, who’s having a HIA. Faf de Klerk off for the same. Didn’t see the coming-together if indeed those knocks are related.
46′ – SA 9-16 IRE: Bealham’s first involvement is unfortunately a poor knock-on after another huge take by Osborne in the air.
Boks ring the changes for the ensuing scrum — and Ireland lock them out on this occasion.
48 ‘ – SA 9-16 IRE: South Africa win another penalty as Doris is pinged for a croc-roll.
The officials are going to look at the clear-out — and it’s a yellow card for Doris because he also lands on Malcolm Marx’s lower leg after the roll.
Dangerous by Doris, he can have no complaints.
48′ – SA 12-16 IRE: Pollard knocks another one over.
Not the start to the second half that Ireland needed. The Boks are on it and Ireland are down to 14 for 10 minutes.
53′ – SA 15-16 IRE: Ryan is pinged for offside after Beirne was very unlucky not to win a jackal penalty.
Pollard is on song, and that’s nine points in a row for the Boks. They’re well on top here now.
Ireland need something.
54′ – SA 15-16 IRE: Crowley seems to be standing in as captain– either officially or otherwise — while Doris is off the field.
Doris’ infraction was sent to the bunker but it will remain a yellow card, thankfully for Ireland.
56′ – SA 18-16 IRE: RG Snyman cuts Ireland open and the Boks are deep in the Irish 22′ again.
Porter is pinged on the ground and Pollard puts the hosts in front.
This has been some second half by South Africa. Ireland, at the moment, look like they’re out of juice.
58′ – SA 18-16 IRE: Kwagga Smith goes over the ruck and gives Ireland a chance to retake the lead. It’s a 45-metre kick for Crowley, right of centre.
They badly need this, to be honest. Just something, anything.
Caelan Doris is back on the field. Peter O’Mahony is on for Van der Flier. Cian Healy on for Porter, who I think is gone for a HIA.
59′ – SA 18-19 IRE: Great kick by Crowley. Ireland back in front after taking an absolute tonking in this second half so far.
Caolin Blade on for Conor Murray.
60′ – SA 21-19 IRE: Ireland concede another penalty as Joe McCarthy catches a ball that’s adjudged to have been knocked on in the air by Calvin Nash. Not even sure Nash touched that, to be honest.
62′ – SA 21-19 IRE: First mistake of the evening by Osborne as he leaves a Grant Williams kick run, it stays infield, and Osborne is blasted into touch on his retreat.
Joe McCarthy excellent in the resulting lineout maul, however, and Ireland win the turnover.
Skin of their teeth stuff, here.
63′ – SA 21-19 IRE: The Boks win another penalty at the scrum, this one on Bealham, after Ireland’s maul turnover.
This has been an absolute domination by the hosts in the second half.
Pollard will have a go at the sticks.
65′ – SA 24-19 IRE: Pollard has been flawless with the boot. Sixth penalty kick of the second half by South Africa.
67′ – SA 24-19 IRE: Replacement Ciarán Frawley does superbly to keep a kick infield. He looks for a 50-22 but it’s fielded by the Boks. They clear straight into touch outside their own 22′, however, and Ireland gain big territory with the lineout.
And they lose it… Mercy me.
But hang on, South Africa concede a penalty — and Ireland will go to the corner!
69′ – SA 24-19 IRE: Ireland win a free-kick on the Boks’ 5′ as South Africa impede at the lineout. Massive chance here. Massive!
70′ – SA 24-19 IRE: Ireland get over the line but the Boks hold them up with ease. Chance gone.
Goal-line drop-out.
70′ – SA 24-22 IRE: Goodness gracious me, Ciarán Frawley bangs a drop-goal over straight from the drop-out!
A monster of a kick! And a great option, too, by the Skerries man.
The gap is two.
74′ – SA 24-22 IRE: Blade does well to buy a penalty for a South African offside and Frawley, on for Crowley I should have said, takes Ireland into the South African half.
75′ – SA 24-22 IRE: The chance goes abegging as Robbie Henshaw floats a pass straight into touch. A tired decision by Henshaw who has all but emptied the tank.
That’s a sickener for Ireland.
77′ – SA 24-22 IRE: Ireland running out of options and Frawley overcooks a crossfield kick towards Nash. Straight into touch inside the Irish half.
South Africa deserve to win this game based on the pressure they’ve been able to exert in the second half. Ireland just haven’t been able to find the answers.
80′ – SA 24-22 IRE: Final minute and Ireland find some space up the left edge. Excellent chip into space by Frawley and Ireland win the lineout inside the South African half.
80′ – SA 24-25 IRE: CIARÁN FRAAAAAAWWWWWWLLLEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! I DON’T BELIEVE WHAT I’VE JUST SEEN!!!
WITH THE CLOCK RED, FRAWLEY KICKS ANOTHER MONSTER DROP-GOAL! THE SERIES IS LEVEL! IRELAND HAVE DONE IT!!!
INCREDIBLE.
