So many wins to be quarried from series disappointment

The immediate response on the final whistle at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was one of acute disappointment given Ireland finished this gruelling series camped on the South African line after a 19-phase onslaught in search of what could have been a winning score and a series clincher. It was that tight.

If Joe Schmidt was told that in advance of this expedition, given the massive injury list accumulated over the last few months, I’m sure he would have taken it. Incredibly just six points separated the teams for a third consecutive Saturday, an aggregate score of 72-66 a clear indicator of the heroics delivered over the last few weeks by the entire squad.

Even the South African public stood at the final whistle to applaud an Irish effort that came within inches of an historic series win. Yet again controversy reigned as it did after the sending off of CJ Stander in Cape Town when South African full-back Willie Le Roux should, in my opinion, have also seen red for a reckless challenge on his opposite number, Tiernan O’Halloran, the effects of which eventually forced the Connacht man off at half time with suspected broken ribs.