As it happened: Ireland v South Africa, Rugby World Cup
JOY UNCONFINED: Ireland players celebrate victory in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match against South Africa at Stade de France in Paris. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Thanks for following our live blog. Don’t forget there will be reaction and analysis of tonight’s game on our dedicated Rugby World Cup Podcast next Tuesday here.
You can also find expert analysis from writers including Ronan O’Gara and Donal Lenihan on our Rugby World Cup Hub here.
And while you're at it, why not consider becoming an Irish Examiner subscriber.
Captain Johnny Sexton says this win is right up there with the biggest of his career but will mean nothing if they don't beat Scotland. Says the Irish fans were incredible and the team wanted to play for them. He says Ireland were lucky at times.
Andy Farrell hails the Irish support. Says it was a game of two halves and Ireland didn't make the most of their field position in the first half. Says Ireland have a few days off and will get back to work on Thursday.Â
Poor James Lowe is hoarse after a bit 'too much shouting'. He hails his forward pack for 'fronting up'. Says the wins in New Zealand and the Six Nations triumph have given the team serious belief.
RTÉ panel warning we've been here before and never got passed a quarter-final. Jerry Flannery says Ireland certainly got the rub of the green from referee Ben O'Keeffe.
The Solheim Cup might be on in Spain at the moment but two of Europe's Ryder Cup stars were in the Stade de France tonight.
Bundee Aki is named player of the match. Huge respect between both sets of players. Stephen Ferris on RTÉ says Ireland are set up perfectly now as they have a week off before the Scotland game.
Ireland have done it!!!!! It's all over! Ireland's maul defence is brilliant and the referee awards them the scrum and that is it with the clock in the red. Zombie rings out around the Stade de France. Such character shown by Ireland.
Huge turnover again from Aki but Ireland kick it away. South Africa win a penalty and kick to the corner. This is the game right here.
The Munster out-half nails the kick from straight in front of the posts. South Africa need a converted try to win it now. Baird claims the restart.
Penalty to Ireland off that scrum! Shot called. Crowley to take it.
Stroke of luck for Ireland as Crowley's drop goal attempt is blocked down, the ball goes dead, and Ireland have a five metre scrum. Kilcoyne on for Porter who has emptied himself. Reinach on for De Klerk. Huge moment here.
Here we go then. Into the last ten. Ireland have a scrum on their own five metre line as Fourie's first lineout throw is crooked. Crowley on for Sexton. What a moment for the Corkman.
Sexton is down with cramp, Bealham is also receiving treatment. All credit to players on both sides. The physicality in this game has been off the charts.
Incredible! De Klerk misses as well. Ireland hanging on. Murray on for Gibson-Park.
Libbok misses the kick. Ireland let off the hook. Furlong, O'Mahony, Ringrose are replaced by Bealham, Baird, and Henshaw. Fourie on for South Africa. Sheehan gives away another penalty and South Africa have another chance. De Klerk taking the kick this time.
The Fields of Athenry rings around the Stade de France for the first time this evening. Irish fans certainly making their presence felt. Donal says he is getting emotional in commentary. Nyakane is on for South Africa. Another huge scrum from South Africa and another penalty. Libbok is going for the posts.
Sexton nails the penalty as Ireland go back in front.
Momentum seems to be swinging to South Africa. Five of the seven forward replacements are on for the Springboks and their counter-rucking is affecting Ireland. As I type, however, Ireland win a scrum penalty and Sexton points to the posts! It's all happening.
Libbok misses a straightforward conversion. Henderson and Sheehan are in for Ireland in place of Ryan and Kelleher. Captain Kolisi off for South Africa.
Try for South Africa. Ireland under pressure in the scrum and with advantage on their side, the ball is flung wide to Kolbe who touches down for his first try of the tournament.
Shades of Sebastien Chabal against Munster all those years ago as Etzebeth is stopped, lifted into the air, the referee calls a maul, and Ireland win the penalty. De Klerk's long-range penalty came back off the post and could have caused chaos.
Four substitutions for South Africa. Snyman, Kleyn, Nche, and Smith are about to come in.
Ireland's lineout has improved but they lose their first of the second half and their sixth overall. O'Mahony had done brilliantly to disrupt the previous South Africa lineout.
Players are back out for the second half. When will we see the famed Bomb Squad?
Enjoying Donal Lenihan's incisive commentary on RTÉ? You can join him, La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara, and Munster and Ireland legend CJ Stander at our Rugby World Cup live event in Cork on Friday, September 29. Get your tickets here.
And breathe! Massive physical effort from both sides. Feels like that huge defensive set when South Africa were camped on the Ireland tryline was a momentum shifter. Aki and Doris have thundered into the game since.
A real sense of momentum switching to Ireland here. Huge hits from Ringrose and a turnover won by Van der Flier.
Sexton nails the conversion. In more good news for Ireland, Garry Ringrose has passed his HIA and is back on.
Try for Ireland! Mack Hansen with the opening try of the game. After all South Africa's dominance, Ireland are ahead. Kelleher nailed the lineout throw and after some good carries, particularly from Sexton, the ball is sent wide to Hansen who dots down - just about - before hitting the dead ball line.
A huge break by Bundee Aki takes Ireland almost inside the 22. He's involved again as Ireland earn a penalty and go to the corner. Aki in Player of the Tournament form here.
Ireland do brilliantly to repel the Springboks twice on the line. Ireland hanging in there. Could that be a turning point?
Uh-oh. The sight no Ireland fan wants to see. Sexton is down and getting treatment after a big hit on De Allende. Looks like he will be able to continue after treatment.
More trouble for Ireland. A crooked throw at the lineout is penalised. And now Garry Ringrose has to go off for a HIA. Robbie Henshaw is in. What a player to be able to bring off the bench.
Very scrappy start from Ireland. Knock-ons, lineout malfunctioning, scrum under pressure. Should Sexton have taken the three points on offer early on?
So close for Ireland. Hugo Keenan almost makes it to the line but comes up just short before the ball is knocked on by Caelan Doris. Ireland's lineout stats are now won 1 lost 4. Penalty to South Africa at the scrum.
This is becoming an issue now. Ireland have lost a third lineout in a row. First scrum of the game upcoming.
Â
Ireland are penalised and Kolisi points at the post. Libbok makes no mistake. Ireland have lost their opening two lineouts.
Â
Early penalty for Ireland in the South Africa 22 as Kitshoff is pinged for lying on the wrong side. Ireland turn down an easy chance for three points. Lineout is lost and the chance is gone.
The anthems are done and dusted and Johnny Sexton has the ball in his hands. Here we go.
 The teams are out and the anthems are about to begin.
Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien are safely ensconced in the Stade de France for us. We will have a match report and all the reaction to come later.
Ronan O'Gara says he doesn't understand the furore around South Africa's 7-1 split.
Donal Lenihan, he of RTÉ's commentary team, says there are no surprises coming from South Africa. The question is can Ireland negate it.
Time for some last minute reading before the game kicks off in 20 minutes.
Did you hear our Ireland v South Africa preview? Hear the thoughts of much-respected South African rugby writer Craig Ray as he joined Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien on our exclusive Rugby World Cup podcast.
Will the luck of the Irish be with us? Duncan Casey gave his thoughts on how the luck of the Irish draw cannot be overstated.
Tommy Martin says Ireland need to deal with Rassie Erasmus' dark arts.
Kieran Shannon says Ireland will need to rewrite their World Cup history.
Here are the teams:
H Keenan (Leinster); M Hansen (Connacht), G Ringrose (Leinster), B Aki (Connacht), J Lowe (Leinster); J Sexton (Leinster) - captain, J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), R Kelleher (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster); T Beirne (Munster), J Ryan (Leinster); P O’Mahony (Munster), J van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster).
D Sheehan (Leinster), D Kilcoyne (Munster), F Bealham (Connacht), I Henderson (Ulster), R Baird (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), R Henshaw (Leinster).
D Willemse (Stormers); K-L Arendse (Bulls), J Kriel (Canon Eagles), D de Allende (Wild Knights), C Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath); M Libbok (Stormers), F de Klerk (Canon Eagles); S Kitshoff (Ulster), B Mbonambi (Sharks) F Malherbe (Stormers); E Etzebeth (Sharks), F Mostert (Honda Heat); S Kolisi (Racing 92) – captain, P-S du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), J Wiese (Leicester Tigers).
D Fourie (Stormers), O Nche (Sharks), T Nyakane (Racing 92), J Kleyn (Munster), RG Snyman (Munster), M van Staden (Bulls), K Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), C Reinach (Montpellier).
Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Welcome to our minute-by-minute of some primetime Rugby World Cup action.
Andy Farrell's Ireland take on South Africa - the world's number one side against the reigning world champions - in Paris with an 8pm kick-off.
Will we get the victory, performance and short injury report that would make up the ideal Saturday night out? Let's see.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
