Irish put it up to classy Boks

Ireland 26, South Africa 36

It was a cracking opening game in the competition.

Ireland were first to score with a penalty from 30 metres by fly-half Michael Rainey. But South Africa levelled two minutes later when Swys Swart, a Blue Bulls senior player, kicked a simple penalty following an infringement by UCD lock David Gannon.

Rainey struck again on 11 minutes with another penalty from 35 metres, but South Africa showed their forward power with a surging drive from outside the Irish 22 for captain and flanker Schalk Burger to touch down. Swart increased the lead with another penalty a few minutes later. Rainey kept Ireland in touch with two further penalties in the 22nd and 30th minutes, but in between those two scores wing Latfras Uys intercepted an Irish pass to race away from halfway to score under the posts and give Swart a simple conversion for an 18-9 lead.

On 33 minutes, Swart kicked his third penalty and just before half-time he made a super break through midfield, supported by wing Alshaun Bock who showed the Irish defence a clean pair if heels defence to race in from 40 metres. Rainey the missed a penalty from just outside the 22 to leave his side trailing 26-12 at half time. Irish scrum-half Fiach O’Loughlin was yellow-carded soon after the restart, forcing an Irish reshuffle with Rainey going to scrum half. O’Loughlin was joined by the South African captain shortly afterwards after a short-arm tackle on full-back Tommy Bowe which deserved a red card.

Rainey then missed a simple penalty from 22 metres before Jacques Cronje, the No 8, was sin-binned and Rainey landed a straightforward penalty from around the 22.

The Irish effort increased and, after a comprehensive move with the ball swinging to the left touch line and back over to the right, winger Keith Matthews evaded the cover to touch down for a try which Rainey failed to convert to leave Ireland just six points adrift at 26-20. But seven minutes later substitute three-quarter Derick Hougaard, who had only been on the field for a few minutes, kicked a snap drop goal.

A minute before the end of normal time flanker Kieran Potts touched down for a try following good forward play. Rainey converted to leave South Africa hanging on by 29-27.

However, two minutes into injury time Bock scored his second try with a beautiful break from outside the Irish 22 to split the defence and touch down under the posts, leaving Swart a simple conversion.

Coach Michael Bradley, the former International, said after the game: “We competed very well, especially in the last quarter. We created opportunities but didn’t always take advantage.

“Unfortunately, we conceded that soft try when they intercepted a pass and scored just at the start of the second quarter of the game.

“We showed some good form and produced some good play, and now we have a chance to come back into the reckoning when we play Scotland on Tuesday in our second group game at Newbury.”

Ireland: Bowe; Matthews, Murphy, Telford, Hearty; Rainey, F O’Loughlin; Moran, Best, Fitzpatrick, Gannon, McComb; Muldoon, Potts; Keogh (Captain). Replacements used: McGovern, Crawford, Rowan, Lane; not used: Corrigan, C O’Loughlin, McAllister