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.
315 – Irish have a beer on me mate. Well done to your team. I am having a glass of wine for you too. 😀
Now going to sit with the mates.
Cheers all catch up tomorrow. Maybe the cricket will be better.
@superBul
Morne Steyn – 25%
Jonathan Sexton – 71.4%
Piet before I go. Remember Gert Smal knows our lineouts like clock work. Maybe that is why we went for the scum where we were very good.
Okay now really out of here. Cheers all.
Puma I am downing them like water mate. Thanks buddy!
Well done the Oirish! Bad luck Boks but I guess this as on the cards.
So it was all Kanko’s fault? He wasn’t playing today.
Where the Boks went wrong:
Kirschwasser 0 – Frans 10 no comparison. Strange they didn’t call on Frans as Zane is out of his element and league.
Dannie 0 – Spies 5 – Kanko 10. In soft underfoot Kanko is far better than these tow. Not even debatable.
Schalk, scored 1 try otherwise not on the field. 1 point. Why didn’t they put on Deysel???
Bekker 0 – Bakkies 10 – Was bekker on the field? No line takes (and that’s his strong point!). Otherwise totally anonymous.
And the best part:
M Steyn shows he is no where near international standard. Last week, ah it was the ball…. I guess he’s best bet is to play Gridiron where he can kick and then leave the field. It was awsemome how the Boks had ‘go forward’ when Ruan came on. Almost won the match against all odds. M. Steyn should only play in the SH. He simply is not up to scratch in conditions other than dry. Probably missed more conversions, drops and line kicks on the winter tour than anyone before him.
Biggest problem is that with FDP, MS and JF JPP is never going to see the ball. They cannot play to the right.
Big plus is that maybe Adi and Kanko are not that bad and that Bulls/WP players are not as good as their fans would want to believe?
Have a good day Puma and we will speak again soon. Enjoy the rest Boks – been a long and succesful season.
The fact that the Boks dont score at all in the second half is more worrying.
@335 OCO – a bit harsh and unfair to the supporters here mate!
KP @328
This was the third loss in a row against the Irish over there!
They are better than us, in Ireland.
I agree with IrishDevil about the goal kicking, ball just doesn’t travel as far Pta style for Morne over there in the cold, always 1 meter short.
But anyways, we tried, and we lost.
I predicted 5 losses on this tour, as you know, there you have it.
One out of five, kukkas…..
i dont think we played crap at all, first half was really good second half not and the Irish played really well.
it doesnt have to be really bad rugby to loose, just some mistakes can do it.
i can be gracious in defeat here and am proud of our team, last game of the season 😡
332
jy soek natuurlik n 100% om die wen te claim,
The Bulls are one heck of a team and winning the Super 14 is way bigger than any local tournament mate. Blaming players who don’t pick themselves is really not the way to go. Anyways guys it was a great game and I enjoyed the sportsmanship.
@ 333
True Puma.
Gert won this won hands down.
Cheers.
Well… I see the knives are out… let’s not be that hasty fellas…
The Irish won the game on 5 aspects:
1. They stole a lot of our line-out ball
2. They cleaned out beautifully on the ground
3. Their defense was rock solid
4. They converted more kicks to goal
5. They played with passion and guts
Simple as that….
GBS thanks for a great site and thanks for the opportunity to share my love for the game with you guys.
345@ Irish – Pleasure, friend… nice having you here….
Rugby is a wonderful sport.
Special congrats to you for today’s win!!
Irish – I think the Guinness and the win is making you a bit emotional!!
(It’s so sweet) !! 😆
I am going to have a few with my mates – temperature -2 now – but I don’t feel a thing. The head will be humming tomorrow – but it is worthwhile. I will have one to the World Champs too. Cheers all and may the Irish gods bless you all.
343 – Hi Piet, still enjoying your homecoming?
I suppose I better do a match summary…
@345
Irish
Must say, I don’t feel too bad losing against you lads, rather lose to you than the Wallas or Poms 🙂
1. They stole a lot of our line-out ball-
2. They cleaned out beautifully on the ground
3. Their defense was rock solid
4. They converted more kicks to goal
5. They played with passion and guts
All this might be true but like you said dont be hasty and dont capitulate to Irish D 😆
we were harshly blown too, the commentators said it early in the game that all 50/50 calls go against us.
But like i said congrats Ireland you played the whole 80 minutes and we could not break you down.
Why we never tried to repeat that move that gave us the only try i will never know.
348 – Go safely our own little leprechaun!! Have a fun evening!
Thanks GBS and yes Carol – we not that used to winning and when we do against the World champs it is very emotional.
GBS 344- i agree and thankyou for not knocking our guys mwhaa
351 – Oi….do you mind!!
Irish Devil @ 338.
Nope, just reality settling in. Blame anyone but those who you support and stick one’s head in a hole. Has to be said, sorry. Let’s see who gets the blame this time round. I noted the excuses on MS kicking last week. Waiting rto see what excuse it is this time round.
Irish were always up to it and the score flatters the Boks. An abysmal tour by all acounts. Won 1 and lost????
Problem is that the best players are not selected based on Provincialistic meanderings. If the correct Boks were chosen then I wouldn’t be happy, or surprised by, less than 90% win rate.
I think GBS is now off crafting his response to the game for a new thread!!
Have a wonderful evening Irish and no crying into your beer even if its tears of happiness and congrats to your team
@349 Carol
All well, thx for asking.
Only problem is the farm telephone-line internet during the week….I have to come to town to blog over weekends.
But we are having a great time out here, going down to Upington next week-end, for a family wedding, and hooking up with some friends I haven’t seen in 10 years.
Only one problem, the heat!!!!!
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