Ireland 38
South Africa 3
Sean Farrell reports from Aviva Stadium
IRELAND DIDN’T EVEN need to hit the high gears as they maintained a tight grip while racking up a record win over a weak Springbok offering.
Late tries from Rhys Ruddock, Rob Herring and Jacob Stockdale turned a comprehensive gap between the sides into a chasm on the final score-sheet. A first international try for Andrew Conway and assured goal-kicking from Jonathan Sexton had put the hosts in command with a 14 – 0 half-time lead.
This Springboks side are now without a win in five attempts and the embattled figure of Allister Coetzee is fast returning to the intense scrutiny that was briefly alleviated by Test wins over France this summer.
In a week that was – through no fault of his own – all about Bundee Aki, the Connacht man made his presence felt as he crashed into tighthead Coenie Oosthuizen alongside Sexton. The prop was rocked back by the first-minute hit and the injury he suffered had lasting ramifications for the South African scrum.
A 79 minute stint looked a tall enough order for replacement Wilco Louw as he took the field, and the gradient ahead of him was doubled as Tadhg Furlong bested Tendai Mtwararira to force an early penalty shot for Jonathan Sexton.
In a pretty flat Aviva Stadium atmosphere that seemed to suggest many fans had an eye setting up for Denmark v Ireland post-match, there was precious little to draw the crowd fully into the match early on.
With a dominant scrum, Joe Schmidt’s side were firmly in control and Sexton slotted two further penalties to make it look like the visitors had false started as they drifted nine points back.
Ireland didn’t need to set the field alight in order to break through for the opening try either. A fine 25th minute up and under from Conor Murray was spilled by Courtnall Skosan and Conway clamped two firm hands on the ball while stepping out of tackling range and hit the gas for a 20 metre run to the try-line.
14 points down, the Springboks did have moments where they threatened to make the game a contest. Consecutive avoidable penalties from Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton helped them set up in Ireland’s 22 and they pushed through eight phases of pressure before a terrific CJ Stander poach nipped the would-be onslaught in the bud.
South Africa came out for the second half bearing a few more more teeth. ‘Beast’ Mtwararira in particular carrying the fight to Ireland and helped force a straightforward penalty shot for Elton Jantjies to put the ‘Boks on the board at 14 – 3 just after the interval. That was to be as good as it got for the tourists.
The veteran prop was among those called ashore before the hour mark and Ireland’s defence still showed no signs of being breached.
A Sexton penalty restored the 14-point gap and Ireland’s comfort in this arm-wrestle was underlined by the early call for Peter O’Mahony and Rory Best to come ashore.
As a whole, it was a game low on fireworks, but for the less-experienced members of the squad there will be plenty of moments to look back on. Aki’s early hit and one glorious long pass, Conway’s try and endeavour in chasing high balls and Jacob Stockdale appeared to enjoy the highest grade of rugby more and more the longer the match went on.
The Ulster wing put in one shuddering second half hit and minutes later he got on the end of a Sexton pass to break through the line on Ireland’s slickest back-line move. Once through the gap, he flung a terrific pass right to Conway and, though tackled, the flowing attack soon led to a try for Rhys Ruddock.
The match as a contest was already over by that point, but there was still time for Rob Herring to rumble over for a try and for debutant Darren Sweetnam to raid down the right. From there, Ireland whipped the ball from right touchline to left where Stockdale continued his relentless scoring form, touching down his sixth try in seven starts this season.
A straightforward start to the international season for Ireland, who now take a five-match winning run into next week’s meeting with Fiji.
Scorers
Ireland
Tries: A Conway, R Ruddock, R Herring, J Stockdale
Conversions: J Sexton (1/2) J Carbery (2/2)
Penalties: J Sexton (4/4)
South Africa
Penalties: E Jantjies (1/1)
Ireland: Rob Kearney (Darren Sweetnam ’74), Andrew Conway, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale, Johnny Sexton (Joey Carbery ’75), Conor Murray (Kieran Marmion ’70): Cian Healy (Dave Kilcoyne ’66), Rory Best Capt (Rob Herring ’66), Tadhg Furlong (John Ryan ’70), Iain Henderson (James Ryan ’71), Devin Toner, Peter O’Mahony (Rhys Ruddock ’50), Sean O’Brien, CJ Stander.
South Africa: Andries Coetzee, Dillyn Leyds, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende (Francois Venter ’57), Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies (Handré Pollard ’57), Ross Cronje: Tendai Mtawarira (Steven Kitshoff ’54), Malcolm Marx (Bongi Mbonambi ’68), Coenie Oosthuizen (Wilco Louw 1′); Eben Etzebeth Capt, Lood de Jager; Siya Kolisi, (Uzair Cassiem ’68) Pieter-Steph du Toit, Francois Louw.
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