Ireland must restore cutting edge if they hope to pass Test

Ireland 12 South Africa 16

After the previous Test outing, that 60-0 thumping by New Zealand in Hamilton at the end of June, anything would have been an improvement but having returned to scoreless ways for the second half of Saturday’s game with South Africa, Ireland have to rediscover their cutting edge with a bit of target practice against Fiji next weekend in Limerick.

Smothered by the Springboks at the breakdown, crippled by slow ball and hampered by a misfiring lineout, Declan Kidney’s side failed to gather any attacking momentum and went try-less for the second Test in a row. Ireland have crossed the white line just twice in their last five, all of which have been defeats and have only cut loose twice, both against inferior opposition in last season’s Six Nations against Scotland (four tries) and Italy (five).